Our Top 10 Films About Translation
Cinema can take us on a journey to other countries and cultures, and translation has been the backdrop for some of the world’s greatest films. Take a look at our top 10 movies that have language at the heart of the action.
Our Top 10 Films About Translation
Just like literature, cinema is a great way to set off on a journey of discovery into other cultures, languages and ways of life. This interest in capturing other perspectives through the camera lens has produced many classic and modern films dealing with the subject of translation, either as a subject matter in itself or as a backdrop for some of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
One of the films to put translation at the heart of its plot is the French thriller The Translators, released in France in January 2020. It got us thinking about other films where translation makes an appearance. Check out our top 10!
1. The Translators (Les Traducteurs, Régis Roinsard, 2019)
Let’s kick off with the French thriller The Translators. It tells the story of nine translators, locked in a bunker and hired to translate the hotly anticipated final book in a bestselling trilogy. Things get interesting when the first 10 pages of the manuscript are leaked online, and the publisher is willing to do anything to find out which translator is guilty.
2. Arrival (Denis Villeneuve, 2016)
An outstanding work of science fiction by Denis Villeneuve, the director of Blade Runner 2049, starring Amy Adams as Louise Banks, a linguist given the task of communicating with some rather chatty aliens. The film delves into the process of translating an unfamiliar language and the potential effects of language differences.
Can she save the world with her translations?
3. Lost in Translation (Sofia Coppola, 2003)
Of course, we can’t talk about translation in film without mentioning this cult classic. Directed by the fantastic Sofia Coppola, who won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for it, the film takes place in Tokyo. A fading American movie star (Bill Murray) in town to shoot a whisky commercial and a young wife (Scarlett Johansson) accompanying her photographer husband discover the delights of cultural misunderstandings and the difficulty of finding yourself far away from home.
We particularly enjoy the scene with a Japanese translator and a very confused Bill Murray!
4. The Terminal (Steven Spielberg, 2004)
What’s the first thing you might need when detained in an airport? A good translator, of course (just ask Tom Hanks)! This film by Steven Spielberg was partly inspired by the real story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, an Iranian refugee who lived in the departure lounge of Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from 1988 to 2006.
5. The Interpreter (Sydney Pollack, 2005)
In this political thriller, Nicole Kidman plays Silvia Broome, a United Nations interpreter who accidentally overhears two men plotting an assassination in Ku, a language invented for the film, a discovery that puts her own life in danger. This film is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat with its action-filled plot. It is guaranteed to please all Kidman and translation fans!
6. Spanglish (James L. Brooks, 2004)
This down to earth comedy is a real must-see. The title says it all: the film deals with the meeting of two cultures, American and Mexican, and all the cultural and linguistic misunderstandings that come with it. A young girl ends up interpreting between her mother, a Mexican housekeeper who speaks no English, and the wealthy family she works for. Everything would have been much simpler with a professional Spanish translator and a clear grasp of Mexican Spanish! Claro, hombre.
7. Okja (Bong Joon-ho, 2017)
Not necessarily a film about translation, but a very interesting exploration of friendship and modern industry by Netflix. In this case it is the translation of the film itself which is interesting. Subtitles became a subject of much debate around Netflix titles, as the Castilian Spanish subtitles added to Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma (2018) in Spain showed. Dealing with the linguistic differences between English and Korean is no mean feat, and in Okja the translation is part of the plot and the humor. At one point the translator character, K, simply says his name in Korean, while the English subtitles read “Try learning English. It opens new doors!”
8. An Impossible Love (Catherine Corsini, 2018)
Once described by a member of BeTranslated who will remain anonymous as “to be avoided like the plague,” we’ve included this film to hear your reviews! This drama by Catherine Corsini, based on the novel by Christine Angot, is an emotional and at times harrowing tale of Rachel (the wonderful Virginie Efira) and Philippe (Niels Schneider), a brilliant young translator whose cruelty has devastating consequences. Don’t worry, our language professionals are nothing like this unsavory character and will respond to your demands in a much more civilized manner.
9. Welcome to the Sticks (Bienvenue Chez Les Ch’Tis, Dany Boon, 2008)
Perhaps not the subtlest film of all time, but one with a lot of character. This hit French comedy includes some hilarious scenes of cultural and regional differences and lots of slapstick humor. Not to mention the admirable subtitling effort into English!
10. Chuck Norris vs Communism (Ilinca Călugăreanu, 2015)
This documentary is a fascinating insight into the world of audiovisual translation and looks at just what happens when issues of censorship and politics come into play. The film tells the story of the illegal importation and dubbing of American action and religious films on VHS tapes in communist Romania, and the political consequences of this cultural exchange.
What do you think? Have we missed any out? We would love to hear about your favorite translation and interpreting films! Or, alternatively, if you’re looking for the Nicole Kidmans and Amy Adamses of translation services, contact us for a free quote or to find out more about our interpreting services.
