The Plight of the Mockingjay: Translating Film Titles

Throughout my recent trip around Europe, I was frequently reminded of my interest in translation, particularly in relation to film titles. As I slowly made my way from the Netherlands to Spain, I encountered numerous film posters in various European languages. However, the one promotional poster I saw everywhere was for the latest addition to The Hunger Games series. I found the translation of its title in various European languages particularly fascinating, so today I've decided to look into a few of the many ways it was translated worldwide.

For those of you who don't know what film I'm referring to, it's The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, which is based on and named after the final book in the extremely popular series The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins.

     A mockingbird, or sinsonte in Spanish.

If you haven't read the books, then you might be wondering what on earth a "mockingjay" is. (Don't worry, no spoilers!) It is a fictional bird in the novel which is said to be a cross between a mockingbird and a "jabberjay", a fictional bird that can memorize and repeat human conversations.

While in Spain,  I saw posters for Los juegos del hambre: Sinsajo - Parte 1 everywhere, and I kept wondering what the term sinsajo meant since I'd never seen it before. After doing some research upon my return home, I discovered that the Spanish translator had actually translated the fictional term "mockingjay"! They arrived at the word sinsajo by combining sinsonte and arrendajo, the Spanish words for "mockingbird" and "blue jay". Without doubt, this is my favorite foreign title for the film since the translator took the initiative to create a new term just as Collins had instead of merely borrowing the term "mockingjay" into Spanish.

However, most other translators seemed to take a different route to translating the title. The French, Italian, and Portuguese titles all refer not to the fictional bird, but instead to a "revolt" or "rebellion". The English title, Mockingjay, refers to the symbolism of the mockingjay as a sign of rebellion, so this decision does make sense... it is just a far more direct reference to the plot of the book/film than the more subtle original title.

In French, the film is known as Hunger Games: La révolte - 1ère partie, in Portuguese it is called The Hunger Games: A Revolta - Parte 1, and in Italian it is named Hunger Games: Il canto della rivolta - Parte I. Interestingly, while the French and Portuguese versions translate literally as "The Revolt" or "The Rebellion", the Italian version is slightly more complex and creative, referring to the "call" or "song" of said rebellion.

If any other translators can provide insight into other interesting translations of this film's title, please let me know! I'd also love to hear about other film titles you know of that have been translated into other languages in a particularly fascinating way.

Movie Review: Ocho Apellidos Vascos

It has been ages since I last watched a foreign-language film, so I decided to remedy that situation this weekend. My choice was Ocho apellidos vascos, a new Spanish comedy by director Emilio Martínez Lázaro, which translates as "Eight Basque Surnames". Since its release in April 2014, it has become the most watched film in the history of Spain.

The film tells the story of Rafa (Dani Rovira), a man from the southern Spanish city of Sevilla, who travels to the northern Basque Country in order to romantically pursue a feisty Basque girl named Amaia (Clara Lago). At the start Amaia wants nothing to do with him, but a surprise visit from her father Koldo, a proudly Basque fisherman, changes her mind. Through a ridiculously hilarious series of events, Rafa helps Amaia by spending a few days pretending to be Antxón, a full-blooded Basque man (as proven by his eight Basque surnames), with the help of Merche, a lovely Spanish widow. Don't worry, I haven't spoiled anything for you - all of this is in the trailer!

Besides the fact that Ocho apellidos vascos was the funniest film I've seen in ages, I was particularly fond of it due to its linguistic and cultural focus. Much of its humor is centered on the fact that Rafa is a typical sevillano with a strong andaluz accent, yet in order to "get the girl" he must completely change his accent, his name, and even his clothes, not without difficulty. Some of the film's most entertaining moments come when Rafa (as Antxón) is pressured to speak Basque, a language he doesn't know at all. The film is certainly worth a watch for Spanish speakers, though some of the comedy may be lost on those who are unfamiliar with Spain's culturally diverse regions and their associated stereotypes.

While the film is certainly not a thought-provoking cinematic masterpiece, I highly recommend it to anyone who knows Spanish and loves a good comedy.

Have you seen Ocho apellidos vascos? Let me know what you thought of it! I'd also love to hear any other foreign language film recommendations you have.

Movie Review: Los Amantes Pasajeros

Today I'm going to take a moment to write about the most recent film from Spain's most internationally known director, Pedro Almodóvar. If you've never seen an Almodóvar film, you're in for an eye-opening experience upon viewing Los amantes pasajeros. His films are certainly not to everyone's taste, so if you're easily offended, especially by sex and drug use, then this may not be the film for you. However, those who are open to just about any film will quite possibly find themselves laughing out loud at the utter ridiculousness the characters become immersed in.

The film centers on the front section of a flight headed from Spain to Mexico that encounters a technical problem. Three flight attendants try their hardest to entertain the privileged few who are seated in business class. Half the fun of the film is learning about the characters, so suffice it to say that they're an interesting group who learn each other's secrets as they panic over their possible impending doom. I'll leave the film up to others to interpret, but desire and relationships are certainly integral themes. 

If you're fluent in Spanish, I recommend watching the film in its original language. For those who are still learning or have let their Spanish skills get a bit rusty, finding a version with English subtitles might be the way to go. The female characters, especially Bruna (played by Lola Dueñas), speak much more slowly and clearly than the hilarious male flight attendants, who are much more animated. 

One key term you may want to know is Agua de Valencia, which despite its name, is not water from Valencia. It's actually a cocktail that combines cava or champagne, orange juice, gin, vodka, and in the case of the film, one other extra special ingredient.

The title of the film has a dual meaning, as it refers to "lovers" (amantes) who are pasajeros, which can mean either "fleeting" or "passengers". It's a very cleverly titled film, as both connotations are apt. In English, a literal translation would not provide the same meaning, and it was instead named I'm So Excited. This seems like a strange choice, but it's actually a nod to my favorite part of the film, a musical number performed by the flight attendants to the famous song by The Pointer Sisters. If you're looking for a light film to enjoy and 90 minutes of Spanish practice, you should definitely check it out.