A movie theater outside Portland, Oregon, is receiving criticism for a marquee advertising Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" with a message that some have labeled antisemitic. The Lake Theater and Cafe's marquee stated, "Before there were the Jews, there was... The Odyssey." This message has drawn ire from the Jewish community, with critics arguing it is historically inaccurate, as scholars generally date the composition of Homer's epic to the 8th century B.C., while Jewish history predates that period by several centuries. Critics also highlighted the timing of the message amid rising antisemitism in the U.S.
The marquee was reportedly altered on July 16, but one side of the message remained visible as of July 17, according to local reports. Rabbi Eve Posen of Congregation Neveh Shalom in Portland expressed her concerns on Facebook, linking the message to broader issues of antisemitism, including a recent incident where a member of the Jewish community had their car vandalized with swastikas.
Posen criticized the theater's message as historically false and offensive, questioning the necessity of invoking Jews in the context of the film promotion. Israeli influencer Hen Mazzig also condemned the marquee as "objectively untrue."
In response, Lake Theater and Cafe manager Jordan Perry stated that his intention was to challenge societal perceptions of antisemitism and to provoke thought. He noted that he did not aim to offend anyone and described his approach as an attempt to push back against what he sees as exaggerated claims of antisemitism.
Local outlets reported that the theater has a history of posting provocative messages on its marquee, which has previously led to controversy. The theater has also faced backlash for its promotion of other films in the past.