Why You Shouldn’t Avoid Subtitled Movies
Aug 6, 2009 by Ross MillerIf you only speak English and refuse to watch subtitled movies, you’re missing out on some of the best films ever made.
It is a a sad, sad truth that most English-speaking movie-goers will not watch foreign (and therefore subtitled) movies. No matter the type of film… Regardless of actors, the director, or whatever – if it’s not in English and subtitles have to be read, the choice will usually be made to opt for something else that doesn’t require reading while watching a movie.
There are several weak reasons for this: The most basic reason is that one has to ACTUALLY READ (blasphemy!) in order to understand what’s going on. Then there’s the fact that (most) subtitles appear along the bottom of the screen and therefore takes some of a viewer’s concentration off the action that’s taking place. Finally, subtitles require more attention be paid to a movie that’s not in one’s native language (English).
But as a lover of all types of cinema, whether in English or any other language, I look at those above reasons as insufficient, and simply not good enough to warrant the sort of avoidance of foreign films we sadly see all the time, except for those film buffs who enjoy good movies whether they are subtitled or not.
No, I’m talking about the more general movie-going audience in English-speaking countries (the US and the UK are notable examples); the fact that (for the most part) subtitled movies don’t get the attention they rightfully deserve; and most importantly, how the shunning of foreign films affects the box office and therefore, the choices of movies we have to pick from when we go to theater.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who is annoyed and perplexed by this issue. In an attempt to help, I have come up with (or rather pointed out) a few reasons why the general English-speaking public needs to stop avoiding subtitled movies.
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You’re Missing Out On Greatness
Breaking news flash: English-speaking countries aren’t the only ones which make great movies. Some of the best films ever made are in a language other than English, and by avoiding certain movies because they’re subtitled, people are effectively robbing themselves of a potentially great experience.
Also, much like the example of modern moviegoers not watching black and white films, a lot of English-language movies wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for certain foreign ones. A prime example of this is the work of late-great Japanese director, Akira Kurosawa. His masterpiece, Seven Samurai (which is foreign AND in black and white…Shock! Horror!), was one of the prime inspirations (if not the inspiration) for the classic John Sturges English-language film, The Magnificent Seven. Imagine if Sturges had shunned Kurosawa’s work because it wasn’t in English: no Magnificent Seven.
Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai' (1954)
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Practice Makes Perfect
Much like learning how to ride a bike, once you’ve watched enough subtitled movies and have familiarized yourself with the process of watching and reading at the same time, you will barely even notice the subtitles, much less make the conscious effort to concentrate on them.
If someone has been avoiding subtitled movies their entire movie-watching life, it is obviously going to take a bit of getting used to. But if you stick with it and go through the process a few times, it becomes second nature (and I’m speaking from experience).
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Word. English is not my first language and it became really clear that subtitles were way better than dubbing, I would say six or seven years ago. It’s an adventure at first; it’s scary, it’s difficult because you actually have to focus on two different things (the image and the writing). But you get used to it. And you can actually learn a bit of a language, too.
Now I just can’t watch a movie that’s not in its original language, whether it’s one I understand (let’s say, French or English) or one I’m not at all familiar with (Korean or German). It just sounds better. Part of the acting shows through words and voices. I mean, try picturing Gregory House without his awesome voice.
I’m mexican, and love going to the movies. It’s like going to the church for me, but EVERY SINGLE movie has subtitles.
You get used to it, and I prefer watching subtitles than a dubbed version. You’ll loose all the little bits!, which is what will happen to Let The Right One In, and already happened with Quarantine (REC was a thousand times better, and Americans don’t even know it’s based on a better movie).
Uhm, that’s kind of stupid because the point of going to the movie is listening, not reading. Plus, we live in America-an English speaking country…or at least it should be because that is who made this country. Sure, you may enjoy subtitled movies and some other people may to, but that doesn’t mean the other people are being lazy or ignorant-it means that they don’t see the point of going to a movie where they have to read it. By this I mean that when someone is speaking, there is a certain tone and facial motions they make and when reading it, you could misunderstand that when they say “hi” it could be taken as rude or nice or creepy. so just put you mouth in you a.. and we’ll get along living in the country that speaks english. i’m mexican by the way so don’t say i’m a racist cuz that makes you sound dumb.
Holy god. This is the most elitist, holier than thou, condescending declaration of “hey guys, I watched a couple foreign movies recently. Look how smart I am. Why aren’t you as smart as me? Let me help you”
And bro, you only know that these movies are “great” because they’re in a pantheon where people who haven’t even watched these movies know they’re great. But they aren’t great because they are subtitled, they are great because of what they have to say but I am guessing your masturbatory pride filled too much of your brain for you to actually think about that. If not, I would love to discuss with you the themes of Seven Samurai or Let the Right One In.
The point of seeing a movie is to experience it, and you will def. experience it better with subtitles rather than dubbing. If dubbing is not done properly it takes sounds effects and voices seem to come from “everywhere” rather than the actors mouths.
I’ve watched dubbed and subtitles movies for the most part of my life, as I don’t live on the US, and the choice between the original audio version with subtitles vs the dubbed version is really no choice at all:)
Hi, guys… Greetings from Chile.
Being Spanish my mother language, my first approach to English was on kindergarten when I was just 5, the first time I went to the cinema to watch a subtitled movie was when I was 6… it was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Now I’m 26 and I’ve became a translator.
I definitely hate to watch dubbed movies, subtitles will be always more accurate. Generally the Disney/Pixar movies have very decent dubbings, but I have to wait for the DVDs in order to hear the original English track.
One thing that has called my attention are the R4 DVDs from Paramount, a couple of movies like “Jackass:The Movie” or “Team America: World Police” have actually more swearing in the Spanish dub than original English.
On cable TV, we have 4 or 5 channels that broadcast U.S. sitcoms, I actually watch House MD, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Heroes, Family Guy… subtitled. And nobody complains about it. FOX broadcast The Simpsons dubbed, fortunately my TV has SAP.
A main issue we have here in Chile that all movies that are shown in 3-D (i.e: Ice Age 3, Up, Beowulf, etc) needs to be dubbed because the subtitles couldn’t be read properly.
I would really hate to watch Cameron’s “Avatar” dubbed.
Wow, I see some haters coming out of the woodwork.
The point of this article is to point out that there are great movies that you might be avoiding or missing out on just because of the subtitle issue.
There’s nothing “elitist” or “stupid” about it.
Vic
Americans are funny. Have you realized that to all non-Americans, american movies are foreign? “Foreign” is not a genre.
It could have been phrased a lot better, but your point is solid. Do not let the illiterate Americans leaving comments here persaude you otherwise.
Ashley, please let me know if you ever direct, write, or do any kind of work on a film, as I will make a very concerned effort to never see it. Even first-year media students know damned well that the real point of going to see a film is to be told a story. And every good storyteller knows that the narrower one sets their limits in terms of how a story can or should be told, the more limited the eventual story will be.
I can understand that Americans are sore about having some of their favourite genres of film done far better by foreign filmmakers. But good and mature filmmakers also take on board what others have done better than they and try to improve their work. Cinema as both an art form and a business could do with far more Paul Verhoevens and Guillermo Del Toros than Paul Andersons or Stephen Sommerses. A good hard look at the catalogues of these directors makes it patently obvious to anyone with a brain why.
The fact that many people will not see La Vie En Rose and Volver because they avoid subtitles upsets me…
Of the dozen “great” films you cite, fully half are good or very good — not great. For one, the only two pre-1972 films you list are directed by Kurosawa. Another thing, your starter list does not include anything from Fellini, Truffaut, Bergman, Ozu, Fassbinder, Ray, etc. Your readers would do well to start with nearly ANYTHING from those directors.
But it was a good article.
I myself could never understand why English speaking people mostly didn’t want to see foreign films simply because they’re foreign. I’m Slovenian and I’ve been wathcing subtitles films ever since I’ve been watching films.
So note to everyone: it takes about ten minutes into a good movie to forget you’re reading the subtitles.
It’s not the lazyness of the americans. due to the slight under-education in the US and as perfectly shown in Zoolander it’s just that americans cannot read good.
@Ross,
I was being deliberately provocative.
However:
When I go to a theatre, reading subtitles is not the experience I’m looking for. If you’re a native speaker of the language of the movie and you’ve ever read subtitles for it in another language, you’d know that what you’re getting is so butchered that it’s not funny (or sometimes it is). To someone who knows the native language, it’s just the visual equivalent of a dub. Mentally it ‘sounds’ bad, feels out of sync, doesn’t hit the right cultural notes and you’re losing half the emotional nuances. I’d rather get the dub please, at least then I can just keep watching.
You left out two great Korean movies:
Shiri
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring
@VIc
I love you, bro and you’re a smart guy. I never meant to hate, but this article is just kind of interesting from a psychological standpoint to analyze the writer, Ross.
He was obviously elated after seeing a subtitled movie and in an innocent way, as most times it is, ends up coming across horribly pretentious due to tone (Shock! Horror!)
It’s understandable though. This happens often with inexperienced writers. They don’t really have a grasp on the public’s understanding or worldview of the issue and end up writing to an exaggerated stereotype.
It’s easy though Ross, as you get older and develop as a writer, things like this will kind of naturally improve. Just keep at it
@Vegabro,
Now who’s being elitist? Looking down at a writer and saying I’m too inexperienced to grasp people’s viewpoints. The article is SUPPOSED to be from a general, or as you call “exaggerated,” point of view, to address those people who are most averse to watching foreign and subtitled movies.
As Vic says, I was just pointing out some amazing movies that people who avoid foreign/subtitled movies are missing out on. I havent, as you say, just seen a subtitled movie and become “elated,” I was just sharing some points about an issue/annoyance I’ve had for years now.
I appreciate you insulting me without swearing or being unruly. Ya’ know, it’ll help me develop as a writer, like you say…
As a Swede, almost every movie is foreign, even if I don’t need subtitles to appreciate movies in English (funny thing is that I sometimes read them anyway).
The first thing I’ll like to say might provoke some Americans but read on to the end and you will perfectly understand what I mean.
Of course most foreign language movies are better than the AVERAGE American ones. Why? Because only the VERY best foreign movies will be released in the US. But if you compare those with the best American movies, there is really no difference, of course. In my Top 20 of all time, eleven (11) are American movies, so this speaks for itself.
It’s the other way around in Sweden, of course. So out of aprox 75 Swedish movies, maybe only one (1) will be released in th US, so of course that one is really good. As Ross says, give those a chance. I mean, don’t forget how good it is for the US movie industry, and in the long run even for the American audience, that so many people in non-English speaking countries around the world, are willing to read the subtitles on foreign movies.
@Ross
I’m sorry my satire was lost on you.
And if the whole point of the article was just to point out some great foreign movies, count me in.
400 Blows
The Beast Stalker
The Human Condition Trilogy
Harakiri
Russian Ark
M
The Return
Tarkovsky, Tarkovsky, Tarkovsky (fav is Stalker)
Bergman, Bergman, Bergman (fav is Fanny and Alexander)
Godard, Godard, Godard (a-loooove Pierrot le fou)
And I absolutely loved Let the Right One In. If you click on my name, it will bring you to my blog where I have a very loving analysis of the film.
And I never meant to outright insult you, only be scathingly clever to try and make a point.
Friends forever?
@Vegabro,
You see, the thing with satire is (which I’m a big fan of, btw) it’s hard to truly get across or make it clear just by written text (or typed text, more accurately). So if what you said was meant to be taken as such, then I apologize.
The WHOLE point of the article wasn’t just to point out some great foreign movies, but that was a part I threw in just for (as I said in the article) for people reading it who may be deciding just to jump into foreign film.
Btw I noticed a lot of the films you mention are older foreign films, by some of the greats. Just to let you know, and to address one of the points you brought up in one of your comments about me, I’m not just someone who’s watched a couple of foreign movies and decided to “look down” at others who haven’t done the same. Not in the slightest, bud. I realize the only pre-1970 movies on my list were Kurosawa, nd the ones I mentioned were just some great ones that I thought of mostly off the top of my head. Also, there’s only a certain amount of films you can put on a short list like that
Since we’re naming great foreign films, here’s a few others:
The Lives of Others
Salo
8 1/2
Woyzeck
Nosferatu
City of God
Eyes Without A Face
That’s cool, then. Yeah, friends forever… ya’ know, in a purely text-to-text way
I couldn’t finish Salo and Eyes Without a face. Both for very different reasons.
And Nosferatu. Dude, watch that movie with the Dark Knight soundtrack. It’s eerie how well it works.
I wouldn’t recommend anyone watch Salo – unless I *really* hated them.
Seriously.
Vic
lol
I fully agree with you. I am a complete movie buff who wants to see any film that is true to its class and is marvelously directed subsiding ‘if-any’ flaws.
Also I would like to ask what foreign language can one learn, in order to get the best each time out of this newly acquired skill. Spanish and French being more likely.
Disagree with the recommendation of Aguirre: The Wrath of God. Didn’t enjoy that one at all. I’ll try others though if you have any more suggestions.
Where are all these accusations of elitism and snobbery coming from? I think the writer made a fairly compelling argument for why people shouldn’t avoid watching a particular film just because it’s subtitled.
What I see, at the end, is the writer recommending certain films that he feels people will enjoy if they can get over their hangup about subtitles. Do you know what real snobbery is? Snobbery is holding a film in high esteem and feeling that one person is better for watching it than somebody else who doesn’t. Sharing a good thing you think you’ve found is hardly snobbery.
Others might say that only the truly great foreign films will ever find huge crossover appeal and that most other foreign fare will be mediocre drivel, much like domestic films. True and not true. True that you will likely only ever hear about the good films from other countries, because those are going to be the ones that people will recommend via word of mouth. But also not true! Most foreign films that get domestic releases in America specifically pander to the desire to see exoticism. Did you know “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” was not at all a successful film in China? Because the Chinese have seen plenty of films just like it already. Contrast this with a recent blockbuster, “If You Are the One” a romantic comedy about a 40-some year old man who goes on blind dates. Very modern, very metropolitan, very pop culture oriented. Hardly the exoticism that most people expect to see from a Chinese film. And also a very good film, might I add. Once again…if you can get over the fact it’s subtitled.
I only would hope that some people will get over their hangups about subtitles when I recommend some Asian films I enjoyed, many of which will never see American soil precisely because they don’t sell the Oriental mysticism that is popular with foreign movies. So subtitles will be the only way to see them. If they won’t take my recommendation, I can comfort myself by simply saying it’s their loss. It’s a small comfort though. You know what I’d rather prefer? People realizing that some good films really are being made overseas and rallying together to demand that they get domestic releases in America. That way, everybody would get to experience them.
Only Americans don’t watch subtitled films. Stick with your comic book action movies with tons of ‘splosions. The rest of the world can quietly enjoy real cinema.
Wow. This is a well thought of article, that i have to say i thoroughly enjoyed. I do have to agree with what you have stated and i am saddened to say that i use to avoid subtitles at all costs, but that changed after i went to see “hero” original title “Ying xiong”. It was a great movie experience even though i had never watched any subbed movie in my life.
Now i watch anime all the time and i prefer that original subbed over the dubbed version anyday. Well done on your article it is amazing.
I came across this article while having…well, I’d call it an argument, but it’s more like a discussion, as it isn’t heated, with my boyfriend because he won’t watch foreign films with me. Which is a huge thing for me, though I try not to show my disappointment too much, because my top 3 favorite films are foreign. 1. All About Lily Chou Chou 2. Amelie 3. Hana and Alice/Rainbow Song <===it's a tie. I'm just want him to enjoy the movies I enjoy because they're my favorites, ya know? Unfortunately, he referred to foreign movies as, "snobby starbucks filmography". =[ I should probably just give it up before it turns into an argument. I just wish everyone could look past subtitles and see some amazing films.
Also, on Netflix "foreign" is a genre. =]