Hellfighter, a Modern Odyssey

Hellfighter, a Modern Odyssey is a feverish road movie in which reality meets delusion and myth.

In a world where gods wield power, mortals are mere pawns in a cosmic game of boules played by Athena and Poseidon. Set against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties, Hellfighter: A Modern Odyssey reimagines Homer’s Odyssey, intertwining myth with history, jazz, and the struggles of the Harlem Hellfighters.

Odysseus, a charismatic and ambitious African-American jazz trumpeter, sails to the United States in 1928 after surviving the horrors of World War I as part of the legendary Harlem Hellfighters. Decorated by the French but shunned upon returning to America, Odysseus and his comrades—traumatized and disillusioned—find themselves stranded in Europe. Led by Odysseus, the group embarks on a restless journey across the continent, where the gods Athena and Poseidon toy with their fates, throwing challenges and opportunities their way.

From dogfights with Italian fascists to the vibrant jazz clubs of Paris, Odysseus rises to fame, finding both inspiration and temptation in the bohemian culture of the Pan-African avant-garde. His romance with the wealthy and rebellious muse Calypso forces him to confront his own identity and purpose. Realizing he cannot escape his past or roots, Odysseus returns home to Ithaca, New York, to face the battles waiting for him there.

Rich with historical detail, the story weaves Odysseus’ journey with encounters with real-life figures such as Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, and Benito Mussolini. Against the turbulence of post-war Europe, Odysseus’ Odyssey is both a personal and universal tale of survival, artistry, and the enduring struggle for justice and belonging.

Production details

Directed by Yvonne van Ulden
Created by Yvonne van Ulden and Onias Landveld
Country: The Netherlands
Status: in development


A multi-screen cinema/theatre hybrid with spoken word, opera vocals, live jazz music, and a mid-length movie.