MovieChat Forums > Au hasard Balthazar (1966) Discussion > Can someone translate the title for me?

Can someone translate the title for me?

posted 19 years ago by rsimanski
30 replies | jump to latest

I have just seen the Criterion DVD of this marvelous film. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find an English translation of the title. Can someone supply one for me? Thanks in advance.

[–] gerr 18 years ago

Extract from one interview with Robert Bresson (I allready posted a link to them in Bresson's forum) may throw a light on the origin of the title:

S: Every day you become more difficult for your audience. So, you only shrug! You're a hard man.

B: No, I am simply someone who likes exercise. You know that "ascetic" comes from the Greek word for practice of exercise. You know where the title of the film comes from? In the south in Les Beaux there is an aristocratic family that pretends to be the descendants of the Magus Balthazar, and so on their crest they wrote "Au Hasard Balthazar." I found it by accident, and the whole story of Balthazar is his chance involvement in the lives of others, so I decided to use this title, which, besides, has a very beautiful rhyme.

I'm Czech, the official distributor's translation of the title in our language means literaly "What do you do now, Balthazar?", in the meaning "You are at the end, aren't you?". I'm not sure if it's correct translation though.

Ymdb
http://www.ymdb.com/kotas-frantisek/l32468_ukuk.html?movieUp=0087803

[–] gspinoza 18 years ago

So, after all, I was correct. :)

[–] thesoupnazi22 18 years ago

I was told that it was translated as "Balthazar Here and There"

[–] kriege10 18 years ago

"au hasard" means "at random". The fact that it rhymes with Balthazar obviously had something to do with its appearing in the title. The notion of randomness and how it connects with Balthazar is open to several interpretations, including that it may mean nothing at all and was chosen only as a rhyme.

[–] smiley_b83 17 years ago

I was told by my poetry professor, who speaks French, that the title translates to "By Chance Balthazar".

Before that I thought it was "Beware Balthazar"...both work beautifully in the film's context.

"F#ck w/me and I'll *beep* w/you...isn't that what we're supposed to do?"
-Jesus & Mary Chain

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] kriege10 17 years ago

"Au hasard" means "at random".

[–] lukechong 16 years ago

"Random scenes in Balthazar's life" perhaps?

[–] PoppyTransfusion 13 years ago

"Random scenes in Balthazar's life" perhaps?

Yes the randomness of Balthazar's life (and death).

I don't think people should worry too much about faithfulness in translation of the titles because in many ways it, like the film, is open to symbolic meaning.

my vessel is magnificent and large and huge-ish

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] PoppyTransfusion 12 years ago

It's good that the film retains its original title without any meddling to anglicise it.

Away with the manners of withered virgins

[–] 9 years ago

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