Standing on the ferry while waiting to dock on the Greek island of Ithaca, Giorgia Ongarato can't help but talk about the Odyssey, the epic poem that inspired Christopher Nolan's cinematic success.
The Italian lawyer says her dream was to visit Ithaca, the home of Ulysses in the poem.
Dressed in a t-shirt that reads "Odyssey" next to a verse, she explains enthusiastically: "I studied Greek when I was a child and I studied the Odyssey."
Although she made it clear that the film was not her gateway to the story of Ulysses struggling to return home after the Trojan War, the 50-year-old says she is also a fan of the film, which she calls "wonderful".
Businesses and authorities on the island now hope that the film will inspire many more to follow in their footsteps.
Ithaca is far from the main tourist centers of Greece and, despite its crystal clear waters and spectacular bays, it has never been a regular stop for travelers.
Its interior is rugged, covered with olive and cypress trees, and is surprisingly calm even in the middle of the tourist season.
Although the film has sparked interest among many, it has also generated some controversy in Greece.
There are no Greek actors among the main roles and locations far from Homer's homeland were chosen above all.
Although some parts were filmed in Greece, not a single scene was shot in Ithaca.
