But by the time the truth is revealed, Nolan completely reframes the story in a way that adds surprising emotional weight to Odysseus' journey. That's exactly what happens after Matt Damon's Odysseus earns the wrath of Poseidon, whose revenge sends him and his crew into years of hardship across the sea. When Odysseus realizes who the People of the Sea really are, he also realizes what he became during the war. He finds an idea buried beneath the mythology and builds on it in a way that strengthens Odysseus' emotional journey. That's what makes the People of the Sea such a great concept to explore.