MovieChat Forums > Hiroshima mon amour (1960) Discussion > Off-kilter subtitles

Off-kilter subtitles

posted 19 years ago by man-man-dot-org
6 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone know (and this is pretty specialized) if the Criterion release is retranslated? I just watched H-M-A on videocassette from the local library, and was distracted throughout by mistranslated subtitles -- I understand enough French that I followed most everything that was being said, but like the subtitles because sometimes Lui's Japanese accent boggles my Anglo ear.

I couldn't entirely enjoy the movie, though, because I kept noticing subtitles that deviated significantly from what was being said in the French. At one point Elle says, in French, "but I did not die in Nevers," and the subtitle reads "but I did not have a choice in Nevers."

I'll track it down on DVD if it's been re-subtitled by better translators. I'd like to see it without a consistent feeling of profound irritation over the subtitling being wrong.

[–] mastercard 19 years ago

The Criterion Collection DVD has excellent subtitles.
They're known for that, among other things.

[–] JohnFK 19 years ago

You're not really answering the question though :)

"My girlfriend always laughs during sex-no matter what she's reading."

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] emtilt 19 years ago

My French is so-so; I can follow most of the conversations but need the subtitles for some parts. I've not seen the VHS you refer to, but the Criterion DVD's subtitles seemed fairly accurate to me. The only thing they may be guilty of is some trimming down into quicker, less wordy English than it is in French. I think this detracts a bit from the flow and poetry of the dialogue, but as far as accuracy in meaning, it seemed about as good as you're gonnna get.

[–] FilmGeek666 18 years ago

I just watched an old 16mm print here on campus at our film library and while I speak absolutely no French... I believe the subtitles were pretty accurate in that print. The line you used as an example was as you said it anyway.

Fun though firing up an old projector--nothing quite like watching an actual film print as opposed to some digital transfer.

[–] neon_ice13 17 years ago

The real problem with the subtitles is not the translation (as many have pointed out, they are very well done on the DVD) but the mere fact that they EXIST. Specifically, the translation of the Japanese. Hiroshima Mon Amour is a film about trauma--how it transcends race, nationality, and even love. In the original French release the Japanese was not translated, intentionally so. This was done to emphasize that which can not be understood, that which can not be translated. Or, more specifically, that which CAN be understood without the use of verbal language. Whether or not one can speak Japanese (or French, for that matter) is beside the point. This intentional use of speech and lack of translation should have been maintained.