For most of us, any movie with subtitles is an immediate turn-off. We hate to read. Which means that we really hate to read at the movies.
This is rather unfortunate, because non-English speaking countries are currently turning out some of the best cinema in the world. From the recently passed-on African filmmaker Ousmane Sembene, to Irans respected Abbas Kiarostami, to the resurgent Romanian cinema of directors like Cristian Mungiu, and the celebrated Asian films of, among others, Wong Kar Wai or Tsai Ming-liang, there is a wealth of entertainment and education to be had from-you guessed it-films with subtitles.
But how can you, who hates to read, learn to watch and enjoy these films and filmmakers? Well, here are two tips to help you get started.
1. Dont Read!
As Im sure you know, movies were initially silent. To tell their stories, they relied on visual information: acting, framing, editing. They were usually accompanied by live music, so they did have sound in some sense, but the sound was secondary-and it wasnt dialogue.
All narrative films today evolved from these silent films and their form of storytelling. Many of the conventions are still around.
Therefore, even today, in a good film dialogue is secondary. It can solidify the story, but it isnt vital. The main thrust is visual. So when youre watching a film with subtitles, dont pay so much attention to the subtitles. Experience film as something to be Grave of the Fireflies : Why Do Fireflies Have to Die So Young? - Grave ::
different kinds of anime that cater to the type of genres you enjoy in movies. The next part of the movie shows when things start to go wrong for a family of
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seen. Sure, let your eyes wander down every once in a while to get the gist of whats being said, but dont focus on those written words!
2. Do Your Reading Before Your Watching
Most people look up movie reviews to decide what to watch. Id suggest something else for foreign films: look them up to understand the basic plot and context. Use the IMDB, the IMDB reviews section, Rotten Tomatoes, AllMovies, Google, anything. It wont take more than fifteen minutes, and youll be rewarded with a much richer viewing experience. A trailer sometimes works, too.
But, you ask, wont that ruin the plot? Probably. And it should! Dont let plot-the Hollywood distraction-spoil your foreign film. Once you know the basics of the story, you wont feel cheated by robbed expectations. Instead of paying attention to what happens, pay attention to how it happens, and how its shown. Thats what separates good filmmaking from bad.
Incidentally, the supposed superior quality of a foreign film is not just some kind of cinema snobbery. Its implicit. Not all movies are subtitled and available in the English-speaking world; only the best ones are. Subtitles, therefore, are a type of filtering. Only the cream comes in.
Give foreign films, subtitled films, a chance. Its an entire new world of film watching. But, its also slightly different than what youre used to watching. So, watch the subtitled stuff on its own terms. And use these two tips as an entry point. You wont be disappointed.
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How to a Enjoy a Subtitled Movie: a Starting Point