Consequences of sms and twit/FB/insta culture : Then, when they wrote with one thumb, they could catch subtitles in the movies.” Alléluia !
1
Haven't we been watching subtitled films for decades? French New Wave, Italian Neorealism, Japanese, Russian cinema. It's not that difficult!
5
Can't speak on your behalf, but we - non English speakers - definitely have!
1
As for the choice between subtitles and dubbing for foreign language films, I choose subtitles every time. The reason has nothing to do with visual aesthetics, but with authenticity. Even if modern CGI can make the dubbing visually imperceptible, the actor makes aesthetic choices in tone and inflection in voicing their lines that are not respected when substituted for by another voice actor. I doesn’t matter that I don’t understand the spoken words — after so many subtitled films over the years, I have no difficulty in integrating the meaning of the text with the emotion of the voice. In fact, years later I can remember clearly the events and emotional impact of a film, while I have to make an effort to remember that it was not in English.
I say all this knowing that in many countries, the voice actors who dub American films in the local language may become celebrities in their own right on the basis of their ability to render the emotion as well as the text faithfully. Still... And I also realize that there is some dependence in this comparison on the quality of the translation, some arguing that the subtitles are inherently less rich in meaning than the dubbed speech, if the dialogue is fast-paced. I am not multilingual so I suppose I can never know for sure, but I don’t imagine the translation quality issue isn’t also a factor for dubbing, and friends of mine who are multilingual say they do not find dubbing to be superior to subtitles in accuracy of meaning
5
Not one of our many friends .... repeat, not one of our many friends have ever joined us to see a foreign film with subtitles. Most of them are/were professionals .... we are in our mid-70’s. When I ask them why they won’t see a film with subtitles, they say .. “I can’t read that fast’.
We have seen 100’s of fantastic, moving, thought provoking foreign films over the years. We saw Parasite way before it became the foreign film to see .... so happy it won (deservingly) so many awards.
4
I saw my first subtitled films in Boston in the mid fifties. The old Exeter Theater routinely played "foreign" films meaning non-english speaking. There is a bit of practice in looking down then up and not getting brain damaged. In those days you could get all the emotion and tone by hearing the actual film. Dubbing has certainly come a long way. In those days, they just dubbed over the original film so the mouths didn't match the sound. But it is still painful to watch. Today, I watch everything with subs. I do not miss a bit of the dialogue and my eyes are skilled enough to take it all in.
1
My wife and I probably watch just as many movies/tv shows with sub titles as we do in English. We'll even turn on CC for some Scotish movies/shows. Even though they are speaking English they are sometimes hard to understand.
You need to start watching some of the foreign tv series that have 60 episodes in a single season.
7
There are probably very few people in the world that wouldn't prefer watching films in their own language. And the difficulty (in many countries) is that there is SO much material hitting the entertainment world right now.
Close to 800 movies released in the US in 2019. But that's just movies released into theaters. Add to that everything the Netflix's of the world are releasing, and the hundred or so cable channels that are showing older movies 24/7, and you have a situation in which a person with a TV that lives close to a theater could watch entertainment (in English) all 8760 hours of a year and not see anything twice.
So on the whole a foreign movie needs to be something really special before most Americans will bother to deal with subtitles. They simply don't need to.
While it is true that a lot of what is produced in Hollywood is drivel, the reality (as someone that travels a lot for business) is that a lot of what is produced in ANY country is just not that great. Just because a film is "foreign" doesn't mean it is any less mediocre than the average US movie.
Every year the film industries in most nations/regions will see one or two unique jewels rise out of the normal bland mush that is forgotten the week after being watched.
The jewels (like Parasite) are worth the sub-optimal experience of subtitles (by definition you miss a lot of the nuances of language and tone that marks great acting if you don't speak the language). Anything else? Not so much.
1
I prefer subtitles over dubbing any day because seeing mouths move sorta in sync with the dialogue is very disconcerting, as is the sometimes mismatch between the body expression and the expression in the voice.
I tend to see the barrier of subtitled films much the same as the barrier Australian films have - the advertising budget of Hollywood dwarfs everything, so getting audience buy-in early is difficult. Cult followings and word of mouth take time to grow, so DVD / streaming is usually the best place to see the film by the time I hear about it.
3
I had, or at least used to have, a very good ear for British dialect films which, of course, are in English. But I do remember watching a film, The Ratcatcher, dir. Lynne Ramsey, set in Glasgow that had English subtitles and not optional ones either. I was nonetheless able to understand most of what was being said. However, a recent Irish film, Kisses, dir. Lance Daly, set in Dublin with no English subtitles was a bit of a rough go, I must sadly confess. Then of course there were many Sicilian films, La Terra Trema dir. Visconti, made after the War that had Italian subtitles, apparently because the dialect was not understood on the mainland. The point, I don’t know, is for the film to be understood by the audience, whatever that takes?
At 73, with a war in my past and tinnitus, hearing dialogue in movies clearly is dicey at best, and if you throw in accents and speakers whose lips you can't see, it's worse.
So, when I go to my local movie theater (a Regal theater), I always stop at the service desk and get a set of subtitle glasses, which are keyed to the film, so I can read dialogue as I watch and listen. (Regal also has headsets for enhanced volume.)
At home, watching films and other shows, I always turn on closed captions for the hearing impaired.
5
subtitles did not reduce my enjoyment of such great Netflix offerings as Fauda, Spiral and A French Village.
I find subtitles helpful even for many Australian and British films in English when the accents are very thick.
6
I learned to read by attempting to keep up with subtitles! Often we would see the film through twice (movie theaters let you do that in the old days) to compensate for the distraction. I love hearing the sound of different languages.
4
Some of my favorites are foreign language (City of God, Amelie, Ma Vie en Rose, Audition). I really liked The Host, too - recommend for anyone looking for more films by Bong. Parasite is a top on my watch list once it's out on DVD.
You do miss some nuance with subtitles because you are reading and not watching the performance or the cinematography and direction. But you do stay with the story and it's far better than dubbing, a travesty almost as bad as pan-and-scan formatting. Perhaps I just need to learn more languages beyond American English, British English, and a smattering of Spanish...
1
You actually don't even need to understand anything to enjoy the pleasures of acting and artifice. When I travel I actually go to the theater, and these are performed in languages in which I do not have one iota of understanding. I've seen shows in Croat, Hungarian, German (okay, some understanding there), Japanese, French, etc.--try it, it's wonderful.
3
As an undergrad many years ago I fell in love with foreign languages and foreign films at the same time. Dubbed films were an abomination, and using subtitles became a natural way of seeing the film, and of feeling the language at the same time. Now at an age where my hearing is less than what it was, I find myself turning on CC for American and Brit movies as well, and it comes naturally. I have been training myself to read quickly and to listen more intently and I find I get a lot more out of all movies -- it's a more intense experience. I also love seeing movies at the theater --it's a communal thing -- but if it's an American movie (without subtitles) I will often wait until it's available on Netflix or Amazon, etc. And thanks to my nice big 4K flatscreen TV, I can still get the total experience.
1
예. (Yes.)
3
The only dubs I don’t find distracting are for animated media. Otherwise I spend the entire movie being bothered by the lack of sync between the voices and the mouths.
2
The subtitles in the "Parasite" wasn't great. It was OK. It would have been great if Sharon Choi (the amazing translator for Bong Joon-ho) did the subtitles.
In literature, Haruki Murakami (the author of "Kafka on the Shore" and "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" among others) takes translation so seriously, the name of the translator is on the books cover, and they have made fortunes translating the Japanese author. Murakami fans appreciate the work of Jay Rubin, Philip Gabriel, and Alfred Birnbaum so much these translators are celebrities in their own right.
All of this to say that we'll get better subtitles with greater recognition, formal credit, and better pay for translators.
Tons of people watch TV shows and TV movies with subtitles turned on. Whether it’s a hearing issue or just a desire not to miss important dialogue, subtitles are useful. Don’t see a problem with foreign films using subtitles in theaters.
2
I was in South Korea recently and went to see Knives Out. The theater was packed. We were the only ones who didn’t need the Korean subtitles. Americans are spoiled. There is no way I would let something like subtitles rob me of the glorious experience of seeing , for examples, Pan’s Labyrinth and Parasite.
5
you'd think it would be simple to place the subtitles under the picture, instead of inside the picture.
3
Subtitles can be very trcky because of text color/background color issues, especially on TV
At the movies, I want to watch the movie, not read a book.
1
Is our society really so dumbed down that we can’t read words on a screen... People play video games with words, maps, and symbols all over the place. How are subtitles different? I didn’t even think about the subtitles when watching Parasite.
5
Seriously, it’s very hard to read words in white lettering against a white or light background.
Obviously the majority of Americans are just too xenophobic, uncultured, and unintelligent to handle subtitles. The remainder have never had a problem with reading dialogue. The main reason a film with subtitles has never won an Oscar before is that the academy voters have been mostly Americans, entirely too convinced of America's supremacy.
5
I have no illusions that the US population will never be truly capable of accepting subtitles. I teach college students and many of them don’t even want to read their lab manuals during class! Reading is anathema to most Americans, although it’s interesting because us weebs have pretty much embraced it.
2
Want to watch a couple of excellent Korean films?
"I saw the devil"
"Oldboy"
1
For us savvy Boomers having subtitles for EVERY show is a reality....beats the blaring sound of the TV or finding the microscopic volume button on your remote while turning the room lights on bright enough to land airplanes. Once you have subtitles you can never go back!!!
7
This film barely grossed over $35 million in the US - about the same as a poorly reviewed rom-com. Clearly the vast majority of my fellow life travelers expressed zero interest in taking it in.
While I adore Snowpiercer [you should really watch that one] and this work, I have zero to no faith that most folks have any interest in either.
They simply do not have dudes in capes flying, massive explosions/things blowing up 'real good', or pounding soundtracks.
Favorite lines:
"The only plan that is sure to succeed is No Plan."
"Counter-clockwise."
1
I can see where subtitles would be a definite communication barrier to Trump supporters - where reading is a luxury if possible at all. Sure as shootin' Trump can't read them; he's still trying to pass a third grade grammar/spelling test.
These thugs would have to have Hannity and Ingraham dubbing the dialogue, but I doubt it would reflect the zeitgeist of the film. Good chance they'd call it a NORTH Korean propaganda plot.
Ignorance is bliss, and this film was magnificent!
1
Dubbing is a terrible thing. It's distracting when the actors voice and the mouth aren't in perfect sync. Diminishes the truth of the moment. Subtitles are just the better alternative. Yay subtitles!
3
Does the technology exist to change the color of the subtitles from scene to scene? It must! We missed a lot while trying to read the white on white subtitles in Parasite.
1
The original “Swept Away” is much better with subtitles, you don’t get the passion of two people fighting in English that you do in Italian.
If you are reading the subtitles, you are missing the acting. Why not read a book instead?
subtitling would also be beneficial because it would not require a remake with a full English speaking cast which takes away the nuance and charm of the original
1
Some of us are lucky to live near independent, usually not-for-profit theaters that routinely show subtitled films from around the world - and these are some of the world's greatest films. (In New York, head to Film Forum, IFC, the Quad and the Metrograph.) If you don't have access to a theater like that, you can stream many great foreign films. Subtitles are far better than dubbing, because with dubbing you're missing everything about how the actor speaks. Without subtitles, we Americans would have none of the pantheon of great cinema: Truffaut, Bergman, Fellini, da Sica, Ray, Fassbinder, Herzog (etc etc etc, on and on and on.) ENJOY!
I want to like subtitles. But I don't think this is about ignorance or xenophobia. There's a deeper issue at play. The issue is that my brain is working in 2 different modes—reading & watching. And doing both at the same time leads to an unsatisfying viewing experience. It's just kind of a bummer.
Kind regards, Terry
@oneillterryg The phenomenon you describe is also something that anybody traveling (or living) in a foreign country has to deal with. Like walking and chewing gum -- people learn to deal with it in order to expand their horizons, or they don't and choose to only do what's possible within the realm that doesn't require these advanced skills. Refusing to try it doesn't necessarily make you xenophobic, just someone who doesn't value broader experiences enough to put up with a relatively small sacrifice for the possibility of learning or seeing something new.
I think the subtitles question bumps sideways into a very big obstacle for much of the world's cultural product: Americans are ignorant of the world they live in.
No I mean seriously ignorant.
If they knew that they are only five percent of the World's population they would realize how many good movies they're missing, but they think they are the majority.
If they realized most people don't speak english again they would have a window on the situation. They don't know that.
If they understood that most of the money in the world isn't here, that too would drag them toward some closer look abroad. They don't get that.
America's great economic success in the mid 20th century hides the fact that culturally it remains largely unengaged with the rest of the world (the Pentagon being the exception).
The problem? The parsimony of funding by local municipalities, not the nation, making sure most towns have bad schools. Americans are not curious or engaged because they're poorly educated and it damages the film economy and the rest of the economy as well.
While I enjoyed watching Parasite, I did feel that I was missing the facial expressions of the actors while trying to keep up with the subtitles. Part of the problem for me (besides being a senior) may be that the color of the subtitles needed to be of a darker color that didn't blend in with the scene. Don't know if anyone else had this problem.
We rented Parasite on Amazon. The subtitles were a BIG problem. Much of the white lettering was against a light background and were totally lost so it was difficult, bordering on impossible to understand the dialogue. This is a TECHNICAL ISSUE that should have been solved by now since is it feasible to digitally change to dark lettering on light backgrounds and visa versa. Get with it technicians!
2
I rely on subtitles for every English-language program or movie, let alone foreign ones, because of the constant whispering, mumbling and technical chatter, often overridden by loud music. Margaret Lyons, the NY Times' "Watching" editor, says she always uses subtitles for the reasons I've just mentioned. It's nothing new and is always helpful.
4
Nope. Sometimes I turn them on for British English even thoughI speak “American”. I am a big fan of Asian cinema and I am not going to miss a good film because I do not speak the language.
Might also point out that Shakespeare is even more enjoyable because subtitles are available so no more sitting with a text to follow. And.....opera......!
1
Subtitles aren’t the barrier, lack of movie theatres is. It’s almost impossible, absent a 2 hr drive, to see any such films. Two megaplexes in my valley of roughly 125,000 people. None will ever screen Parasite, etc.
Two minutes in and you forget about the subtitles. You're too caught up in the family drama and story to notice you're reading.
1
Remember that foreign language films don't only offer you a bunch of fussy art house pieces. If you watch subtitles, you'll get to experience monster movies like Godzilla, swashbuckling Samurai movies, creepy horror films from all over the world, dazzling war epics, gangsters, and the list goes on.
1
I starting watching sub-titled Kung fu flicks when I was young, even though really bad dubbing was part of the fun with those back then. Following the action and the sub-titles became second nature. I barely even notice the sub-titles now. I think most people would find the same if they gave them a try.
4
Subtitles are a deal-breaker for me. Dubbing works better.
It seems this dialogue is revealing that many Americans simply cannot read very well. Shouldn't be surprising I guess - the effects just show up in different places like subtitles.
Note to Mr. Bong (after having watched Parasite on my TV at home):
As a lover of subtitles - and as someone who even watches English films with the subtitles on - please try to absorb the idea that white letters on a white or light background are next to impossible to read.
Subtitles are less of a barrier when they are, you know, actually legible.
2
Based on my years of sitting in near-empty theaters, I'll say Americans are not ready to embrace subtitles, unless the picture has lots of violence, gore, action. Then again, Americans tend to dismiss films in English that lack violence, gore, action.
1
Connection and washing...
Was “Parasite” such a good movie that it deserved an Oscar?
Possibly. It burns me to be reminded that if the Kim family was so clever-What took them so long? Anyway, I believe "1917" was much better movie and it should have won. Elbows and eyebrows.
I have been told that having to read subtitles, throughout a TV show or movie, may enrich those who enjoy such challenges- but from what I've read and have gone through myself- subtitles are annoying.
I do suggest that you turn on subtitles/lyrics to your favorite songs on YouTube or iTunes.
Your favorite song? The song you know by heart? Ya, you've been singing it wrong for years...
Obviously with subtitles a person must focus on the word exchange while missing out on what is happening on the fuller screen. What may be funny/scary/upsetting in Korean or German may not word translate very well in English.
Plus, we can dance in the shadows if we wish, but movies like “Parasite” may end up much like "Crazy Rich Asians" stewing in their constant reminder of acclaimed popularity and how things are changing... The problem? I look around and see more of a regression in race civilities.
Perhaps the Academy Awards felt obligated to do what they did- Just in case.
If you don’t like subtitles, you’re missing out on many great and interesting movies.
1
Yes, Americans have problems with subtitles. This says more about Americans than subtitled movies.
1
I saw "Parasite" when it was still under the radar at my local indie theater. I knew the movie had subtitles but didnt think about that when choosing my seat. A pair of taller people (Im only 5'6") sat in front of me making it particularly difficult to follow 100% of the dialogue. Thats my only real complaint about subtitles, tall people sitting in front of you.
2
My favorite part of the movie was the annoying maid lady getting kicked down a flight of concrete stairs. No subtitles were needed!
2
Israeli shows are the biggest problem reading subtitles. It seems that the spoken words run at such a frenetic pace that it is difficult to do much more than read sub-titles. Doesn't seem to be an issue with most other languages.
I watch all TV and movies at home with close captioning. I just prefer reading to listening. I find dubbing weird and off putting to watch but it’s great that streaming services have it available for the blind who might want to experience a movie made in another language. I think many who object to foreign language films with caption are slow readers.
1
Many of my favorite films came with subtitles - The 400 Blows, Day for Night (La Nuit Américaine), Blowup, Nine Queens, and numerous films by Chabrol, Fellini, Kurosawa, Bergman, Almodovar, and others. But the large multiplex theaters run by Cinemark, AMC, Regal, and others are not willing (in general) to give over even their smallest theaters for a weeklong run of subtitled independent foreign films. So the vast majority of people who still go to the theater to see movies don't have the option of seeing international films in languages other than English. Even if they were dubbed (ugh!), it's not likely that they could compete against the Marvel Comic Universe "blockbusters". I'm very thankful to live in a city with outlets of the Landmark chain, which brings subtitled foreign films here.
As for on-screen text, millions of people are used to reading the closed captions when they watch games in a noisy sports bar, and millions more routinely read the on-screen crawl during news and sports shows on TV. But foreign films are culturally different, made with fewer special effects, starring and directed by people who are not household names in the US. So it is likely to remain a small minority of screens that show foreign films and a small number of moviegoers who have the opportunity to see them. Subtitles per se are not the issue.
1
For many of us, it's not a choice. We cannot read the script that flashes by at the bottom of the TV screen. I don't even bother to try anymore.
But I'd like to say this: I think *money* had a lot to do with this movie receiving an award and not so much uniqueness or talented writing. Why? There are so many other truly remarkable movies and actors that didn't even get a thought.
As people have noted, some subtitles are better than others. They should be able to change color when appearing against a white background. So frustrating to miss out on something because you simply can't see it. (Of course we also miss out when a line is mumbled or garbled.) And another thing: if a character reads something that turns the plot, for the love of Mike leave it onscreen long enough for us to read it - and include it as a subtitle.
Because of poor hearing that isn't poor enough to warrant hearing aids, I have closed captioning on pretty much all the time. However, when watching foreign movies, I would have opted for subtitles even if hearing weren't an issue. I speak some Japanese, and in my opinion, the problem with Japanese movies dubbed in English is that Japanese people express themselves in ways that English speakers don't (and vice versa). So some of the dubbed dialogue creates a cultural dissonance that I find distracting. I'd much rather hear the right inflections in the speech and read what I need to. And since I'm guessing that the same dissonance would occur with other countries' films, I watch Wallander in Swedish with subtitles, and Stranger/Forest of Secrets in Korean with subtitles. Thanks to streaming and DVDs, I can rewatch a scene if I've missed anything.
Actually in many countries synchronising movies is done very well.
As a senior citizen with a significant hearing hearing problem I love going to foreign language films with subtitles. I don't have to worry about missing critical words - which happens in English language films. After a few minutes I forget that I am reading the titles and it is as if I am hearing the words in English. Add to that the fact that these films are very often excellent films with good plots and fine dialog, and it is a rewarding experience.
My wife and I enjoy foreign TV shows from all over the world. We have become accustomed to subtitles so much that we are able to read them easily if they are done well. The TV shows expose us to culture, scenery and acting that, in general, is outstanding. It opens up the whole world! Subtitles are very useful when the English dialogue is difficult to understand sometimes with certain British, Irish, Australian, etc. accents. And they force one to actually watch the show instead of trying to multitask and read your phone or do other things.
Give foreign films and TV a chance with subtitles. It might take some getting used to, but it will be worth it!
I have always enjoyed subtitled foreign language films since attending college in Washington DC which had many movie art houses at the time now closed. I would walk to the films on a brisk cool autumn weekend day in Georgetown or Chevy Chase with a girlfriend going to the movies, enjoying a meal together then returning home In the evening darkness holding each other closely very much in love. Really miss those days.
Why not have Americans learn foreign languages?
Learn a foreign language and the literature in that language opens up to you. Yes, I'm ignorant like most Americans of foreign culture. But what little I know is immensely broadening. I read "the Stranger" in French and not only learned some basics about the language but about how the writer Camus saw the world. Could I have done that in translation? Not as effectively.
Or maybe we should actually learn German, Italian and French so we can actually understand in operas such as Die Meistersinger, La Traviata or Carmen. The music sounds best when sung in the original language. Or hadn't you noticed.
Now the Academy has decided that they want to honor a foreign film after about a century of neglect and critics have the temerity to accuse me of not "liking" foreign films because of the subtitles?
What about the American high schools who express American chauvinism by allowing NO FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION except for Spanish. Well, in my high school in the 60's they at least offered Latin. Now that has vanished. Several high schools do offer French it is true.
But what is the result? Americans don't learn the languages so of course they remain ignorant of the actual history of foreign countries. And those Americans raised in ignorance of foreign cultures vote for presidents.
And they have chosen a president like them who knows nothing about history or foreign affairs for that matter.
Ignorance is costly.
2
@Blaise Descartes in the late 50s my small city had 6 years of English, Spanish, German, French and Latin available starting in the 7th grade. Now my grand kids have an opportunity for only English and Spanish in a metro area of 2 million. Of course I also had 2 years of algebra plus geometry, trig, integral calculus, probability and statistics. So, it's not just languages being short shrifted.
1
The only theater in my community that consistently plays foreign films is in an old moldy building built like a bowling alley. I'm short and not only do I begin to feel sick, but I can't see the subtitles to read them. Perhaps the success of movies like "Parasite" will increase distribution to more mainstream theaters. In the meantime, I'm grateful to streaming services.
1
My wife and I are fans of films in different (foreign?) languages, as they often posit different approaches to the ideas of narrative and story-telling while also speaking to the constants in the human condition regardless of geographic origin. We are fine with subtitles, as they let us hear the actor while at the same time helping to convey meaning and intent we would otherwise miss. However - and this is a question I've been asking of filmmakers for years, including Michael Moore at the Traverse City Film Fest some years ago, why can't subtitles be super-titles, at the top of the screen instead of at the bottom? Or why cannot they alternate as best befits drawing the viewer's eye to the filmmaker's intended visual emphasis in any given scene? This is the digital age, people, placement of words on a screen is fluid. Why is this important to me? Take for instance the State Theater in Traverse City. The seats are extremely comfortable and expertly chosen and designed, but the seat-backs are also quite high, so unless you're tall or get a seat up high, the subtitles can often be hard to follow without bobbing one's head from side to side to get a look between the seat-backs in front of you. Mike told me that studies have been done that conclude subtitles are best shown at the bottom of the screen (hence the term 'subtitles'?) but in this day and age, I tend to question whether that assessment holds.
BTW, Mike, if you read this, Thanks so much for the TCFF!
Subtitles can hurt the suspense of a scene for me. Subtitled jokes are the easiest example. Sometimes the sentence leading up to the last few words is setting the stage for the punch line, and processing a line all at once, instead of word by word, changes the dramatic effect.
Sigh. My problem is that I am visually impaired and have a hard time seeing the subtitles. When I was younger I went to all the foreign films.
I understand the concerns from the visually impaired and there should be another solution as well. I find it interesting when watching a subtitled film that I have to turn up the volume because I can't hear what people are saying, even though I don't know they are saying without the subtitles. It is an interesting way to experience another language.
Subtitled movies are great when one has the time and desire to sit down and read through an entire movie. I love foreign films and have been watching them since I was young, but sometimes it's nice to be able to look away from the screen and still understand what's going on.
1
@Anonymous If like me you are a fast reader you can easily look away
I prefer movies that don't have subtitles. It's really as simple as that.
1
And synchronising movies is actually easy.
Subtitles are never a problem for me unless they are done improperly relative to the background conditions that can be annoying sometimes but otherwise foreign films are great!
If we have to live with continuous news crawls and other interrupters in the corner, or randomly popping up on our (albeit cable) TV screens, I'd say no, the subtitling isn't / shouldn't be a barrier.
Now, at this stage, I just need to be able to pause and read them sometimes. (Have gotten spoiled by that handy DVR feature.)
And really, skinny white lettering? That's (bad) art direction.
However, if any & all subtitles were to be readable for even the older and slower among us, it's essentially like getting closed captioning as part of the package.
Years from now, the notion of depriving the hearing impaired of subtitles will be viewed as cruel.
2
At age 44, I know watch everything with closed captions. Maybe its my age, maybe its keeping the volume down while kids are sleeping, maybe it is the accents of the actors (currently watching Fortitude).
A good film is a good film, with or without subtitles.
5
@James I do the same.
I don't have hearing problems, but I started with them also for sleeping kids, for British shows, and for HBO, which has awful sound on many programs (actors mumbling/whispering).
Following that I just got used to it. Now I noticed sometimes I miss them when I'm watching "regular" tv. I actually prefer reading the words than just listening.
2
I don't think Americans' avoidance of subtitles is really about the subtitles per se. Americans just don't consume international culture - consider how we don't listen to international music, whereas the rest of the world often listens to majority international (as in, not from their home country) music.
Also, foreign film was somehow associated with artsy intellectualism a long time ago - that is more of a barrier to many than anything else. If only Americans knew how many dumb, bad movies other countries produce - just like we do! But there is the perception all foreign films are high art, etc.
We have always sought out movies with subtitles (French, Swedish, Japanese) and in our area of California people with visual issues can listen to the audio description at movie theatres,performing arts venues simply by requesting a special headset and receiver provided by the facility.
Bear in mind most American films that get released in theatres in other countries aren't even subtitled!
1
I've noticed is that many people, including adults, just can't process written language very quickly. Probably because they watch too many movies and don't read enough!
4
I've been watching almost everything with subtitles for decades, albeit usually in English, which I understand very well. Still, without subtitles I often cannot catch every detail, or have to strain so much to understand everything that it actually distracts from the content. Especially when people use slang or speak in dialect, or when there is a lot of noise from action scenes.
That said, subtitles are always a trade-off. When I'm looking at the subs, I'm not fully immersed in the pictures. And it's almost impossible to not look at the subs, even in scenes where I'd not need them.
So, I can fully understand that people do not like to watch subtitled movies. Watching a movie in its original language without subs is vastly superior - but of course only if you perfectly understand that language. Dubbed movies on the other hand are almost without exception very poor quality. Even here in Germany where dubbing foreign (mostly American) movies and series is a major industry. I imagine that in America, where it's a small niche, the quality is even much worse.
Living as I do in Sydney, Australia, we see here mostly foreign films. Many are made in the USA and particularly Holywood. Despite the impossible "Yankee" accent, none are provided with subtitles. Myself and many others miss out of large chunks of the dialog as it is indecipherable to proper English speaking audiences. It is time American actors studied in elocution schools, so the rest of the world can understand them. Know what I mean?!
3
@artusan Not an American but really, there is no "proper English speaking audience". Different accents or dialects of a language may be more or less discernable to other speakers of that language. I've lived in Canada, the US and the UK and there are plenty of people in each who enunciate and plenty who don't. Some American's have told me that my Canadian accent makes it hard to follow what I'm saying and others have told me that I speak a beautiful and clear accent just as they imagine it's spoken in England. If you find a "Yankee accent" impossible, it's your ears and discernment at fault. and
1
A different language is a different vision of life.
- Federico Fellini
4
I quit attending films in theaters years ago due to irreversible hearing loss (the hearing-aid scam just continues to roll along without any significant advance in years). Ask for a “subtitling device” in most theaters, and you get blank stares. Devices that are made available are dragged out of dark closets with dead batteries. At least Met Opera HD usually subtitles their offerings. So... we wait months and months for films on DVD/Blu-Ray, transcode them with burned-in subtitles, and get by just fine. Foreign films, the few that make it over here anymore, have a distinct advantage: hearing-impaired viewers can actually watch them on opening week-end. The rest of you should just get over it.
An option is always good. For folx that prefer or need subtitles movies should be prepared to offer them. For people living with visual impairments, dubbing is needed. Studios would do well to remember this. Personally I like the subtitles and depending on the language of the film I pick up words here and there.
Some of the best movies I’ve ever seen have been subtitled; “Z” and “Katyń” immediately spring to mind. Quentin Tarantino made us watch subtitles in both “Kill Bill” and “Inglourious Basterds”; great ciné. Subtitles should not be an impediment, and I’m happy that “Parasite” won.
2
YES!! I love subtitles! I much prefer to hear the actors’ original voices, with their emotions and inflections, and read subtitles. Plus, when I watched “Parasite,” afterward I thought I’d heard it in English. Amazing!
Moreover, subtitles give the hard of hearing and deaf access to movies they can’t otherwise enjoy. And this is a growing population, as older adults often become hard of hearing as they age. Even younger people experience hearing loss.
More, please. Much more. Sometimes, I even want subtitles to English language films.
1
Another consideration when assessing how Americans approach subtitles is the precipitous rise of Japanese animation (anime).
Its rise in popularity has pretty closely mirrored the evolution of the internet, so it tracks that it would fly under the radar of older generations. However, it is slowly creeping into the mainstream. Netflix's first foray into original anime series started with one show in 2017 and has since expanded to 19. Two of Reddit's five fastest-growing subreddits are for upcoming game releases based on popular anime series. It's difficult to get metrics on US anime viewership because of the many platforms it exists on, but the medium is having an impact. The anime streaming service Crunchyroll has gone from 100,000 subscribers in 2012 to well over a million today, Anime Expo got over 100,000 attendees in 2018, and the pervasive popularity of Pokemon goes without saying.
While English overdubs ("dubs") exist for most anime series, watching with subtitles ("subs") is by far the more popular option. If nothing else, this cultural crossover has certainly contributed to the growing acceptance of subtitled media in the US, and it has planted a seed for even greater progress down the road.
4
I have perfect hearing and am a native English speaker (with a Masters in English!) and I almost always leave subtitles or closed captioning on when I watch any tv show or film. To me, it helps me make sure I didn't miss anything in the dialogue (critical in a film with a lot of lingo like The Irishman) or it's a situation where I don't want to strain to hear everything (like when I watch a film on a plane, right next to the jet engines). Only occasionally will I turn off subtitles/closed captioning when the dialogue is just right, the visuals are too stunning, and I want to fully engage in the experience.
I simply won't pay for a movie that is not in English. I am hearing impaired, while I use CC for the news, and a few shows where I miss some of the words, I would not sit through a movie in subtitles. Now dubbing in another language is fine. Since I read lips, about half the time the voice and the lips of actors are in perfect sync. My tech friends tell me that it's simply inherent in some HDTV encoding. Since the voice is much easier to decode that the video, they often are out of sync. I am used to that now, and I prefer the dubbed version.
1
I turn on subtitles for everything I watch. Makes understanding the dialogue much easier! I have a problem where I can't easily separate dialogue from background noise and it bothered people when I turned up the volume. So now I turn down the volume and turn on the subtitles. I find it's easier to follow the plot, too. Some subtitles are really good- the text is under the person speaking, you can see names of people, other subtle details which increase enjoyment.
1
The Planet of the Apes trilogy raked in more than $1.2 Billion. More than half the dialog was subtitled. Maybe that's the secret: Americans are willing to read subtitles if they are hearing grunting, but not if they have to hear French.
6
It would be helpful if streaming services added an option to display both the original and translation at the same time to help viewers learn the language. Captions make so much excellent content from overseas accessible.
Bong is right. Foreign cinema offers the many worlds of planet Earth, so when I can take the time to watch+read, I do.
Yes, people who refuse to watch a subtitled movie are missing out on an entire universe, but not as much as the fools who refuse to watch black-and-white movies because they aren't in color. My ex-wife was one of them.
5
Why did you marry her? A fatal character flaw!
It's hard to pay candy crunch on my phone and read subtitles at the same time. Fox news has figured this out.
1
I just don't get the hang up over subtitles.
I have seen so many amazing films over my life with them, I don't even question them.
Americans are spoiled, sorry.
5
Given that nearly 20 per cent of Americans are unable to read and understand a newspaper, subtitles start off with a big handicap.
11
Are Americans ready to stop being lazy and close minded ?
6
Closed captions, open minds
English is my wife's second language. Ever since we've been together not only have I been introduced to delightful foreign films with subtitles that I previously would not have considered, we watch all English film with subtitles on. I'm now amazed at the dialogue I've missed in films I've seen multiple times before! Honestly, I enjoy films now less without them at the theater.
1
So this all goes to show is if you make a great film people will watch whether or not it is foreign in origin. The fact that all the movies mentioned in this article--(except for Roma which had only 5 days of limited theater exposure)-- had US box office amounts anywhere from 4 times to 8 times more than the movie Parasite just confirms my belief that Parasite was actually the dog of a movie I personally found it to be and all the awards and media attention it received were actually undeserved.
I just wish the subtitles were legible. So many times they’re too bright, too small, or the font has the letters too close together. The movie makers don’t seem to care if they can be read. I know because of how often tHe subtitles are in accurate and spelled incorrectly. Find someone who wears glasses. Find another person who’s over 50. If they can’t read the subtitles , they need to be fixed.
7
I love when
The navkground is the same color as the captions lol
I quite like movies with subtitles but I dislike/avoid dubbing. I like hearing the native language while reading the translation because I can feel the emotions still.
At home most of the TV shows and movies we watch are subtitled/foreign via streaming services.
After a while, I hardly notice that I'm reading their words in my own language; the brain adapts quickly. Restricting yourself to English-only movies/TV prevents one from engaging with the world outside our door.
1
The subtitles are always on my TV--no matter what I watch. I love reading the TV in addition to hearing the TV but since I watch a lot of British shows, sometimes their accents are so strong that it could easily be a foreign language. One of my favorite shows last years was the Italian series My Brilliant Friend on HBO- totally in subtitles. It's the only way to absorb the true magic of some shows.
3
I always have subtitles on because sometimes I find it difficult to understand what was said even in English films. Subtitles don't distract me at all and I think plenty of people don't really care if they're on or off.
Why don’t they use English voiceovers like the Spanish television shows - less distracting and very high quality - get some tips from those who have made a high art form with it!
Give me subtitled over dubbed any day. I find the disconnect between the dialogue and the mouth movements distracting.
I watch a lot of series and movies with subtitles on, even when the language is English. If it's good stuff, I don't want to miss a word.
But, but, but. My son and I finally watched "Parasite" last night. We watched at home and found some of the subtitles hard to read. Size was part of the issue. White type on light or white backgrounds was the bigger issue.
5
With some exceptions, anyone who truly loves film should not have a problem with foreign films with subtitles. Most of the greatest films ever made are not in English. I think people either accept them early on or never. I've been watching films with subtitles for over 30 years and with rare exception I forget they are there. Reading them is such a quick scan that it's hardly noticeable.
I do understand how those who cannot see well do not like the subtitle option but then that is about dubbing, which is something the industry doesn't do much anymore - in part because of cost and lack of demand. But also because those who frequent foreign language movies don't like dubbing. Some distributors and theatres could work toward accommodating for this with headsets that describe the action [which they do but not - to my knowledge - for foreign films] or dub the audio but subtitling should never go away.
1
my husband is visually impaired, and cannot read subtitles. Even in a movie theatre, where the ratio of screen text is presumably larger, often the caption is too small and dialogue is too fast for him to keep up. When he's tried (like in certain foreign-language scenes in an english movie), it has sometimes given him a migraine because of the strain and concentration that is required. I read subtitles to him in those scenarios, which I don't mind. But I can't read a whole movie to him - for both our sakes. We both have heard so much about Parasite being a wonderful movie, but we will not be seeing it because subtitles are a very real barrier for people who are visually impaired. When people advocate for more foreign language films and subtitles (rather than dubbing), they are unintentionally being ableist by ignoring the realities of what it means to read small, quick text on a distant screen. Hollywood must do better to include all audiences in their programming in addition to creating better racial and cultural diversity - creating an experience for non able-bodied viewers is really important.
3
As a hearing impaired adult (with hearing aids), I have relied on streaming films for my entertainment. Sometimes I don't like to wait for a wonderful film like "1917" to be available on line and take my chances in the movie theatre. Fortunately, although I missed the subtle nuances provided by the dialogue, following the plot was easy in the action-packed film.
Movies, a important part of our culture, should be available to all, hearing and sight impaired, just as theaters are now wheelchair accessible.. I understand there are limitations, and I cannot expect to be fully accommodated, but the industry has a long way to go to make room for those who are sensory or physically challenged.
1
Subtitles is good. 1) Educational (I am Greek and learnt English as a kid through subtitles) 2) Original language contributes to building the context in a movie (culture, society and the storyline) 3) Makes it easy to follow the story when mumbling or using slang 4) When on mute for any reason (noise pollution, family sleeping) you still follow 5) On mute you can imagine how actors talk, in the same way as if reading a novel and building the story in your head. It sort of personalises the connection of the viewer with the storyline 6) An actor's face, expression, movement, connection to the character is better assessed sometimes on mute (again). 7) An actor's voice may not always be the best fit for the character she is playing. 8) Dubbing is even worse; impossible to connect and empathise!
Maybe I prefer mute (with subtitles) more often. If the movie keeps you hooked without people talking too much, then you ve got a great movie. But how challenging is to make sort of silent movies today? A script sometimes is used to make a movie when all else is failing. (i.e. thin story).
I understand the effort of countries like Italy or France to defend their own language by dubbing but at least for English speaking movies the game is probably lost. English is becoming universal language.
I think I went beyond the subject matter!
In addition to being a poor choice for those with visual impairments, subtitles only work at home, on a TV where your view is unimpeded. For theatres, films should use supertitles, so that the large hairdo of the tall person in the seat in front of you doesn't block that key story element from your line of sight.
4
If you *don't* find subtitles distracting, then you are simply not paying attention to the visual spectacle of the movie. Nothing wrong with that -- I love audiobooks! But many of us love to linger over the composition of a shot, the sly visual jokes embedded in a tracking shot filled with rapid dialogue.
You simply can't do both at the same time. It's like driving while texting. It's possible, but your experience is diminished.
3
@Paul
So you watch the film once for story and a second time for all the artsy stuff you love . I'm happy to tell you there are a myriad of people who can actually follow a foreign film with English subtitles and fully appreciate all aspects of the production. Heck, they even have subtitles at the opera now for goodness sake!
1
I'm watching "Mr. Sunshine", a Korean series, on Netflix for the forth time. It's one of the best series I've seen in the past two years. I've been watching subtitled films for many years now and don't even notice the subtitles. They are just part of the film. As a result, I have gravitated from the Hollywood type films to International films which we find so much more interesting. Some of my favorites are: Grand Hotel, Money Heist, Babylon Berlin, and many more.
4
With levels of sophisticated dubbing techniques always rising (leaving those blood-and-sandal movies from the 50s and 60s behind with their inadvertently bad dubbing) there's really no reason for subtitling.
Or, better, streaming services should offer both.
I personally don't mind subtitles, though good dubbing obviates the need for most -- what I'm thinking about is the greater audience in the US. To get to them, dub it!
@DD - I haven’t yet seen a foreign film or TV show where the English dubbed version was better than reading subtitles and hearing the original language (even if I don’t understand that language).
11
Subtitles are this girl’s best friend! Since I started to lose my hearing unexpectedly at age 50 I’ve started to use cc all the time. My family has adjusted and now they share my hope, as does the larger deaf and hearing-challenged community, that cinemas will soon embrace subtitles for ALL movies. I also appreciate the high quality Assisted Listening Devices (ALDs), that some theatres provide, which could also be used to provide an English soundtrack for foreign language films. What bliss to enjoy a comfy recliner, artisanal snacks, grownup beverages, and big screen entertainment I can also understand!
I often turn on the subtitles for shows produced in Ireland or England's north, at least for the first couple of episodes until the dialect begins to click.
There's some great TV streaming from foreign countries, like the excellent "The Bridge" and "My Brilliant Friend." It'd be a shame to pass on them, or great movies, just because they're subtitled.
5
Filmmakers control the screen. Everything in the shot is there for a reason. Filmmakers do not make films with the expectation that attention will be inordinately drawn to the bottom 10% of the shot. So the notion in many of the comments that the only reason not to prefer subtitled films is ignorance and xenophobia is a bit much.
I love foreign language films, never had problems with subtitles, and it would never keep me from something i'd want to see. But recently i have increasingly caught myself focusing on the low half of the screen so much that I miss some things. Miss is perhaps the wrong word. i find myself having more of a "reading" experience than a visual experience. I've made an effort to read the subsitiles while not looking mostly at that portion of the screen, and it works, but it takes some effort, or at least a conscious choice. others i know have had the same experience.
1
I became used to subtitles in films due to various film festivals and because the cinema at the gates of UBC (University of British Columbia) offered a constant diet of foreign films, from Fellini, Antonioni, Satyajit Ray, Kurosawa, etc etc. American distributors , aside from the independents in the big urban centres cannot even spell their names. Profit driven, non thinking corporations. But then America has always largely been an inward looking nation, obsessed with its own entrails, happily ignorant of external goings on. Largely due to geography, sadly
1
Lots of great subtitled shows on Netflix. I imagine in 5-10 years this will be a non issue. I do sympathize with visually impaired folks and I hope some of these moves get dubbed but I'd rather read the translation - seeing lips move and words or cadences not fit is more difficult for me than reading along. Plus having to read means you actually pay more attention - can't be multi tasking when you are reading and watching
Viewers who refuse to watch subtitled movies are missing the vast majority of the best films available. France, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Israel, Taiwan, China, Mexico, Belgium, Turkey, Spain, Russia and many other countries are producing terrific cinema every year. Yes, there are still many excellent American movies, Little Women, A Marriage Story, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and The Irishman for example in 2019, but they are only a fraction of the world's best films.
6
Movies with subtitles are simply not accessible to most people who are blind or low vision. I have two legally blind people in my life, and a third who has retinitis pigmentosa and is on the way to legal blindness. Newsflash, blind people like to go to the movies too. It is deeply hurtful to the community of visually impaired people to be denied access to entertainment that others take for granted they will be able to enjoy without any barriers. As I often say to my closest blind person, the world is not made for blind people. I will not be going to see this Oscar winner because of the subtitles, because I can't take my closest friends. Would that the entertainment industry would take into consideration the needs of people with visual impairment as they have done for the hearing impaired community.
21
@Nancy Friel Fair point, but in many cases there is a dubbing option for those who prefer or cannot read subtitles. Aside from such accommodations, how would you propose the non-English speaking world to further take into consideration the needs? Stop producing non-English content entirely?
30
@Nancy Friel, I can’t go to movie theaters because the sound is always too loud and gives me a headache (even though I already have some hearing loss). The fact is the world cannot be made perfect for 100 percent of its inhabitants. I choose to watch films at home, with translation subtitles or CC, to accommodate my unique needs. Someone with limited or no vision can do the same, with a dubbing feature. My streaming service offers a descriptive feature, where a voice describes what is going on. Personally, I would rather listen to an audiobook.
22
@UWSer but the we must consider the larger population of hearing impaired people, who rejoice at subtitles.
It gets expensive for any industry to accommodate all of us impaired people. Over time the technology gets less expensive, so (I am deaf and visually limited) I go out for coffee. In my wheelchair.
22
I have a hearing impairment and always use subtitles when watching any visual media. But I also read lips in conjunction with reading the subtitles. It is a whole different process when the speakers are not speaking the same language you are reading in the subtitles. For my purposes, I would rather have the movie dubbed and subtitled in English. It seems to me that doing it this way would hit the largest number of people.
11
@Pam When I first read it, this seemed to make some sense, though I didn't agree. But then I re-read and can't quite follow your logic. If they dub this Korean movie, to facilitate your lip-reading to accompany your following the English sub-titles, are you proposing that they also use CGI to change the lip movements to match those an English speaker would make? Otherwise, what good would that do to help you?
6
Like many here, I also use subtitles all the time. When I watch a movie in a theater, I miss the subtitles and sometimes fumble for a non-existent remote to turn on the titles!
2
I watch many films, probably 40% which are subtitled. It boggles my mind to think what some movie goers are missing out on simply because they refuse to watch something with subtitles. My children and I watch subtitled films together, and sometimes we may need to pause to read the text or rewind if we missed some words, but to me it is no different from needing to rewind because I could not hear the spoken dialogue. Whether a film is subtitled or not has no effect on my decision to watch it. Unless I'm folding laundry. Then I'm mostly certainly watching a film-noir in English. And my oldest is currently taking first year Spanish, so I expect he will continue to enjoy more films in Spanish as he continues to learn the language.
For those wanting to experience more foreign films, I highly recommend the Criterion Channel. They have collections soley for foreign Oscar nominees, among many other wonderful collections, and I have never had a complaint with any of the subtitling provided. I am currently working my way through Lina Wertmuller's films before they expire and some of the dialogue is rather fast (Italian always sounds fast to me) and requires a bit more pausing and rewinding than normal but I consider it well worth the effort.
For those like me who are tired of all the Hollywood remakes and prequels and sequels, you would do well to expand your film consumption as there are many filmakers with original ideas outside of the US.
Thank you for this article.
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@KatCaakes
I watched Godzilla as a child and thought nothing of the subtitles, it seemed perfectly natural to have the foreign language I didn't understand translated.
The problem, as usual, is that somehow we have allowed ourselves to succumb to the idea that consumerism means participation, and the the only legitimate market is the largest.
Why does every news story these days seem to indicate the decedent regression of society and conclude with the necessity of hopeless submission.
I know enough unpracticed french that I tend to leave the subtitles behind about 2/3 of the way through the movie. I cannot put into words how satisfying that is. I have also noticed that the reading the subtitles, hearing the speech and appraising the visuals are not beyond my capacity, I have a feeling patience in developing one's appreciation is probably, fundamentally, good for you...
5
@KatCaakes
I saw 6 of the 8 Best Picture nominees last year and Roma was the best of them. It won the Foreign Language Film award (and Directing and Cinematography) but not Best Picture. I'm happy to see Parasite, which I saw and really liked, make the jump to the top spot, but the achievement comes (at least) one year too late for me.
I wonder what other foreign language films moviegoers recall being unhappy to see not receive the Oscar for Best Picture?
Happy watching (and reading)!
5
If foreign language audience can tolerate English language films with subtitle (movies made for younger audiences are dubbed for obvious reason), then surely, we can do the same for foreign language films.
While additional cognitive load may initially distract from "oh I just want to relax", as the article points out, once you get engaged in the film, subtitles becomes second nature.
And who knows? You might learn few phrases here and there.
51
I think what bothers me most about strictly subtitled movies, is that everyone reads at different speeds. By the time you read a multi-sentenced line, the next one pops up before you finish the previous one. You can’t watch what’s physically going on while being focused on finishing a characters line.
6
@LI RES I agree, which is why I generally prefer to watch foreign language films at home, where I can rewind to re-read.
Apple TV and many streaming devices have handy "what did she say?" voice command that rewinds 10-15 seconds.
It also doesn't help that some films are just poorly translated.
5
@Phil The brain cannot both read subtitles and see the video action. Subtitles work best in slow moving movies, and of course, if there are many speakers, it's really hard to know who is saying what.
8
Nice article!
If you love good cinema...subtitles aren't an issue. Occasionally viewers may lose subtle verbal nuances, but that fear shouldn't drive one away from non-English language films.
I love the experience of hearing the language, seeing the facial expressions, seeing the hand gestures, and reading the subtitles. As other commenters have pointed out, you do become accustomed. I'm always a bit disappointed when a Netflix or Amazon foreign TV show or movie is dubbed.
I also like reading the subtitles, even if I speak the language. I often learn new vocabulary, expressions, or ways of framing ideas that can only be transmitted by a modern translation, rather than relying on Google.
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@Mary Subtitles are usually very imperfect translations which do not capture the full richness and nuance of the dialogue. A good actor is able to say the same sentence in ways which express different meanings. Also, languages have particular concepts which have no simple foreign equivalent. For example, the Brazilian word "jeito" might require a paragraph to explain even when its translation must be brief enough to accompany the action on screen.
3
@Mary Netflix has an option to turn off dubbing and turn on subtitles. You can google it, but basically, there's a setting for Audio and a setting for Subtitles. Turn Audio to the original language and turn subtitles on. I prefer my content that way as well!
7
@Mary Sometimes, films today alternate between loud explosions and quiet conversations (not to mention black figure on dark background). In such films, I find the subtitle helpful as well so that I need not strain to hear what they are saying.
5
I love foreign films and black and white classic films. I also am a regular opera and ballet patron. Americans "shy away" from these things because they are lazy. Everything has to be spoon fed these days to most Americans or they won't respond. My parents tell me that at one time, everyone wanted to better themselves. Now, in America, children are told, "You're good enough, just the way you are." This is the wrong message. None of us are "good enough." There is always something new to learn or discover but to do so, one must venture outside and offline.
5
At first I thought the title of this article was a joke. And then I remembered that I was raised in NYC where the art of film has always been celebrated and which I recall is one of the greatest aspects of being from that place. Subtitles were simply a part of the experience...it was seamless. I forget that this is not so for much of the rest of the country.
9
I use English subtitles (presumably intended for deaf people, which I am not) all the time for shows with British Isle actors. It really helps get through the mumbling and slang.
1
I use subtitles all the time - keeps me from waking up the kids. Doesn't an open floor plan practically demand this?
I get annoyed when I'm watching a foreign show and Netflix doesn't provide subtitles for English dialogue. Have to remember to go turn on regular captions.
As a neurologist, I think subtitles are exposing mild dyslexia in some people that aren't keeping up with the text of fast-paced dialogue. For me, subtitles exposed presbyopia of middle age.
3
When the article mentioned that Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was subtitled it gave me pause; it was a favorite film of mine and I've seen it a few times but, in my mind, I remember it as being spoken in English.
All the best mid budget movies are foreign movies now. All hollywood makes comic book and China co-financed action schlock or low budget independents that can get bought by a streaming service.
If I want to watch a Silence of the Lambs level thriller, I go Korean.
4
@John says "Go on Netflix, find a title with an interesting description [and subtitles] and force yourself to watch. . . "
Riiiight. If the experience is unpleasant, it must be good for you.
As for the notion that subtitles give you the "authentic" experience. . . They are translations, after all, and, on top of that, often have to cram a lot of dialogue into short English sentences. And to do that they have to leave out a lot, especially a lot of nuance, thereby creating as much distortion as "authenticity."
2
@Ed Who says it's "unpleasant"?
It would be helpful to audiences if subtitles were in yellow rather than white. There are scenes when the white wording is lost, washed out, in the background of the set, lighting or clothing worn by the actors. Forget dubbing. That is something I find an intolerable distraction. As to the one inch size of the subtitles--no problem. I say this as someone who enjoys foreign films.
14
Living here in the Netherlands as a Brit, my Dutch has now improved enough after 6 years to be able to watch non-English movies but with Dutch subtitles. It's hard and I think I miss about 25% of anything that has a lot of conversation. Luckily our local art house cinema shows one movie a week with English subtitles or we wait for the DVD to come out. However, I did learn lots of Dutch swear words from watching Game of Thrones!
1
Many people resist the idea of subtitles, but you find that you forget about them pretty quickly once you get into the movie.
15
Watching a movie with subtitles does not bother me at all. It’s showing the story in the truest form, the country where the film was created. And I must say my favorite of all time is Ang Lee’s,” Eat Drink Man Woman”, a story of loss, search and finding love.
1
It's really sad this is a problem for anyone. Heck, I'm a native English speaker (and not hard of hearing!) and I turn on subtitles for English shows and movies whenever possible -- it just makes the experience richer.
16
Good foreign options indeed. Like "Bron/Broen" (The Bridge), a TV Series from 2011-2018 (but just four seasons). In Swedish AND Danish with subtitles, 8.6 at IMDB, an engrossing "Nordic Noir" production with great acting. After the first three seasons on Region 1 DVD's , the last season was Region 2 only, what to do? Buy a region free DVD player ... B-}
4
@Steve Kennedy
Even lousy foreign options. I've been into Telenovellas lately. Scratches a soap itch left behind from peak Shonda Rhimes.
I watch "good" stuff too, but it's exhausting to me to do that all the time.
1
@Steve Kennedy, I have been enjoying “Wisting,” from Norway. Also recommend “Ragnarok” if you want something that is not a “noir” police procedural.
People who refuse to watch films with subtitles are like picky children who hate to eat everything...but never try anything new. Go on Netflix, find a title with an interesting description, and force yourself to watch. You'll be opening yourself to an entirely new world of GREAT movies - with few of the predictable Hollywood formulas.
19
In Barcelona it’s not possible to see a foreign film with English subtitles for the default is always Spanish. This surprised me at “original version” theaters where I watch films in English with Spanish subtitles. But not one cinema shows foreign language films with English subtitles.
2
@Hollis Why surprise? Would you expect to see a foreign language film in US with Spanish subtitles?
I was curious to see whether this article would mention the "controversy" when the Met first introduced subtitles at the opera a decade or more ago, but even without a good lead-in (“Whenever you are watching a movie there is a whole orchestra’s worth of things happening in your brain,”), I wasn't that surprised to see it didn't occur to the writers or editors. Sign of our times. Glad to see that Netflix and other streaming services are helping turn back the tide and encouraging consumption of more non-English content.
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@UWSer Parenthetically, I usually need the super-titles even for operas sung in English.
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Netflix is really doing a favour by getting people over their subtitle hangups.
Dubbing is terrible because visually it never matches and hearing the original tongue is part of the acting and vibe of the story. I wont watch dubbed anything.
Subtitles films actually already exist in the US on a small scale from Hispanic and Indigenous film makers.
22
We can’t get people in America to watch movies in English that aren’t super-accessible brain candy. You think they’re gonna tolerate subtitles? Get real..
3
Lots of Netflix content has subtitles. I wish there were more. For some British shows, say from Wales or Ireland, subtitles are a necessity until this Texan can finally grok the Queen's English.
I wish, however, that the subtitles were in a colour that contrasted with the background. Sometimes it is too hard to read white text on a white background.
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@qisl I believe almost all of Netflix material has subtitles.
The subtitles are way too small. Four times larger would be about right.
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@Mark in Louisiana On netflix you can adjust the size. Its down at the bottom of the screen. A small ?icon.
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@Mark in Louisiana Or control over their size.
We're already embracing them! Look no further than the success of Nextflix. They have some outstanding programs originating in Spain, Germany, Italy, and elsewhere that offer subtitles in various languages. Spanish programs like "Velvet" are hilarious and addicting. It's easy to find yourself binging on all 51 subtitled episodes. The production quality is as good as any US production and well worth the time to watch. My fellow Americans, don't be so dismissive of foreign programs with subtitles. You may actually enjoy them and learn something about the rest of the world in the process!
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I have been watching foreign tv, movies for about four years, I can't say I can speak the languages but I understand what they are saying. I am hoping this is helping my brain. For those that don't know , you can enlarge the subtitles and put them in a different color. The funniest thing is when others are watching at the same time and they made comments which goes across the top of the screen (very tiny). A lot of people will write where they are watching from. You learn other cultures and the scenery is beautiful.
Subtitles always seem onerous at first, but like reading a novel, it takes a bit of time to get into it. Your brain actually begins to read more quickly. You stop actually going from word to word, but take the subtitle as a package that converts almost instantly in your mind. You know what is going on, you may even be starting to learn the language. For many of the excellent foreign films that I have watched I can’t even remember if they had subtitles or not. You get so immersed in the whole experience of the film that your brain figures it all out. The dialogue part of experiencing a film is a small part.
On another note, watching films with subtitles is a great way to learn new languages as they use more of the day to day vernacular than is normally covered in language learning platforms.
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@Dorado You explained it perfectly! I don't even notice I am reading.
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I would much prefer to watch a film with subtitles than watch one as I did recently. It was a Norwegian film on Netflix with English subtitles but also with the actors also being dubbed in English as well. That to me is pointless. Are audiences becoming that lazy? I believe that if the viewer must hear and see his or her native language to appreciate a film, perhaps they are in the wrong theater. Also I suspect with so many films available streaming on-line, fewer people even make the effort to see a film as many were meant to be enjoyed- in a theater, in the dark sans cell phones with others who enjoy the film experience that way.
@michael mcneil
You can adjust the settings to remove the subtitles and to play the film in the native language.
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What “barrier”? It is insulting to treat the movie viewing public like a bunch of barely literate children.
I watch more subtitled, foreign language content than I do English language shows. Both the films and the streamed television shows I see are usually far better quality than the stuff that comes out of American studios. The only frustration I have with subtitles is when they are done poorly — lines not translated, or the translation flashing on and off too quickly to read.
Sometimes I even need the subtitles for BBC shows. Does anyone outside of Glasgow understand Glaswegian?
I like to “read” all of my TV screen content. I have some minor hearing loss, so I have fallen into the habit of keeping the CC feature on at all times. It’s nice to be able to silence the most annoying talking heads on CNN, but still read their words. I wish that there was a CC feature for daily life. I suppose that is one positive feature of losing one’s hearing to the degree that you need a hearing aid. You can turn your hearing aid off when you need to.
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@UWSern huh? Who lacks a sense of humor? What are you on about?
It is absurdly easy to offend in Korean culture. Even raising your eyebrows is considered to be an insulting gesture. But that is neither here nor there where subtitles are concerned. Off topic, in fact.
I use subtitles now for any show I watch. I got into the habit while watching Peaky Blinders and now find subtitles enhance my comprehension of all shows or movies.
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@Betsy Jarvi You've made a good point. English is my first language but I need subtitles for many Welsh, South African, Scottish, Irish, New Zealand, Australian and British TV shows/movie because of the strong accents.
I quite like their "foreign" English accents but miss dialogue without subtitles. And yes, as I grow older, I need subtitles on "regular" shows as well.
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@Betsy Jarvi haha! I was reading all these comments thinking 'I have to put on subtitles for Peaky Blinders and I'm married to a Brit! Glad I'm not the only one :)
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We have gotten quite used to subtitles in our house as a result of my French studies and getting addicted to TV5Monde. We’ve moved on from French films to Scandanavian thrillers (“The Bridge” tv series, and “Occupied”, etc), as well as Italian tv series (“Detective Montalbano”, “Murders at BarLume”, and “The Vertical Line”). We’ve even just thrown in the towel and put on the english captions for various British detective/police procedurals, because, honestly, no matter how loud you turn up the volume, you still can’t understand what the British (and especially Scottish) detective is saying, lol.
Looking forward to watching the newest Oscar winner.
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To get used to the foreign language format, start with something fun and undemanding such as the classic Godzilla films from Japan. It feels less like "work", before you are ready to graduate to fussy international art house films.
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I have no problem with subtitles, but in much of the world movies are dubbed rather than subtitled, which is something American audiences, both highbrow and lowbrow, will not put up with.
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I have a daughter with a hearing impairment and I have become accustomed to reading and watching. I have found many interesting foreign films on Netflix. While a bit distracting to watch and read I have been able to enjoy them and their unique perspective.
I am hoping one day to watch Parasite and see what all of the hullabaloo is about.
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The movie was so layered and powerful that I actually forgot about the subtitles as I watched. And perhaps I was even grateful for the subtitles as they allowed me to step a tiny bit away.
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Complaining about something you don't feel like doing that the rest of the world finds second-nature? Because you don't realize it's normal for everyone else... or you don't care. Seems like a problem, friends.
Most of the movies in the world WILL NOT be in your language, and you'll miss out on so many amazing works of art, experiences and voices from around the world only because you feel that understanding others should not require any effort at all.
Bonus: Sometimes I'll leave the theater with native English speakers and find out they missed out on quite few things, seems subtitles could benefit everyone.
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@Mariano I am completely in favor of screening foreign-language films in their original language with English subtitles. And I am completely willing and practiced in criticizing American culture... But where oh where are you getting this idea that subtitles are something "the rest of the world finds second-nature"? In fact, there are many countries where most foreign-language film screenings eschew subtitles for dubbing. Places like Italy, Germany, India, and -gasp- France! Your assertion is simply incorrect.
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I've never had a problem with subtitles, in fact they make the experience richer because reading the dialogue allows deeper comprehension. I love being immersed in a different culture right from my own living room.
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So many of these foreign actors can speak English, that it would behoove them to record voice overs in English and you'd get similar expressiveness. Subtitles are fine in a movie where the images don't matter, but no human can both read and see the actors performing. Eyes don't work that way. The market for English is huge, nearly the entire world, whereas Korean speakers are rare globally.
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@David
I have no problem reading subtitles and watching the actors perform. I've been doing it since I was a kid. I find myself more immersed in subtitled films than English speaking films.
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It's not the subtitles...it's the typeface...if film makers could recognize that what's happening on screen often makes even seeing the subtitles, let alone reading them, impossible it would help
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@Ken Harper Netflix is the only streaming service I have found it difficult to read the subtitles on, but it was easy to access my account and change the text, which if I recall correctly, included the size and color, and whether it was boxed in.
I think the more films with subtitles a person reads, the faster they become at reading them, the more words they recognize on their own, the less it feels like a chore, and the more it becomes a part of the experience.
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@Ken Harper i know it's not the movies, but one this note, some streaming services have the option to change the typeface, color, outline, etc of your subtitle texts to make them more legible for your situation
You lose something even in the best of dubbing: accents.
French dubbers are the best, they get voice actors who sound just like the original actors. But no dubbing can dub in French a British vs American accent.
Regional and class accents can be adapted to by finding the parallel region/class in the dubber's country (north vs south, standard middle class vs inner city, etc)
Well, alright, I suppose, one could dub British English into continental French, and American English into Canadian French...
And what about Canadian French movies? Well, in France, they're subtitled...in French!!
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@Boeuf The best comment I've seen on dubbing is the scene in "Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios" (subtitle: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) in which the actors are dubbing an English language film. I never can figure out if I should smirk or laugh out loud. But subtitles wouldn't work for it. You have to understand both the English and the Spanish.
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Italians famously prefer dubbing to subtitles. They have a whole industry dedicated to it; look up a short film on Prime video called "It's Better In Italian" (which, ironically, is subtitled!)
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I have been watching foreign subtitled films for decades and in the 60s probably saw more foreign films than American ones. I do not understand why foreign films are nominated for "best film" and "best foreign film". If they are going to give a foreign film best film they should probably get red of the latter category. That said, I don't understand why Cold War, the extraordinary Polish film was not nominated. Similarly, Transit deserved some recognition. Parasite was not my cup of tea - class warfare is a new idea? Unsubtle and overly violent.
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@Carole Cold War was nominated the year.
Prefer no subtitles. I feel I miss half the movie or dialog depending on what I am paying attention to. I am not the fastest reader and also find some of the captions go away before I have finished reading them. Not good. I basically try to avoid subtitled movies.
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@Lacedog Yeah, that's exactly the problem? You're missing out on a TON (the majority of world's cinema) because you don't like subtitles. :/
With a (vengeful) daily Twiter president who has no intent and/or capacity to express himself in full, well structured sentences, and with a Secretary of Education whose intent is to destroy public education, subtitles are a great addition for helping to restore thoughts via full written sentences, with the added benefit of orthography and punctuation (while entertaining!).
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I know many people that are ok with watching a movie with subtitles. I, personally, cannot enjoy a movie that I have to “read” to “watch.” If they change it to an English translated movie, I’d watch it with no problem. If I’m going to “read” a movie, I may as well get the book!
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@LI RES *Majority of people in the world watch movies with subtitles, because the majority of movies that exist are NOT in one's own language. It's not even something you think about when watching movies in Italy, Mexico, or China. There are so many good films, experiences, voices, that you're missing out on. :(
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@Mariano And many more are dubbed. Besides, English is the most widely known language, not Korean which is mostly limited to two countries called Korea. English is how most foreigners interact because it's the common language.
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@David Spoken like an American. There are lots of films not made in English that are are translated into the local language. India, which produces more films per year than anybody else, translates them to different languages for the Indian market and into European languages and into English.
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As more people get used to the augmented reality experience that is becoming available on devices, subtitled films should begin to feel less "foreign" I think. Two things are key to subtitles that work, though. One is obviously the quality of the translation/interpretation of the dialog, as discussed in the article. The other may be less obvious, but it's design (ie: typography). Savvy filmmakers will will use talented designers to make subtitles less of a chore to use. Image if they were not only easy to read and pleasing to read, but timed well but a skilled subtitle editor, and perhaps even placed so it's easy to tell who is speaking (like dialog in graphic novels, etc.) and to better integrate them into film visually.
6
while not a total obstacle, subtitles do take away from the whole film experience. you miss a lot of the visuals while reading. or vice versa. It prompts the need to watch more then once, so to capture more of the movie. which we're not always willing to do.
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I watch more foreign films than American ones. I don't find subtitles distracting at all. I wish my friends were fans though, there are countless amazing international films that deserve more recognition.
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If a film is dialogue heavy, subtitles all but require losing the visual impact of the cinematography as the focus is always on the bottom of the screen (but I do find them handy in understanding a Scottish brogue!).
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@Kit Have never felt that way. While watching spectacular visuals in Italian, French, Japanese or Chinese movies you learn how to do it all at once. It's simple practice. Again, USA audiences are so used to certain structures and layouts that are "easy" because they consider them the default, thinking that any alternative is more difficult when in fact the rest of the world does it without thinking about it (as many many other things that don't make sense outside the US of A). Bonus: Sometimes I'll leave the theater with native English speakers and find out they missed out on quite few things, seems subtitles could benefit everyone.
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@Kit - I could not understand Ben Kingsley's dialog in the great thriller "Sexy Beast" without the subtitles turned on. And he was supposedly speaking English!
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Another potential factor that went unmentioned in this article is the rise of anime in popular entertainment. Since the 80s, it's transformed from a niche genre really only available in specialty shops/mail order catalogs to a fairly sizable subgenre, with several dedicated streaming services and large catalogs available on 3 of the 4 big streaming sites.
A lot of this has to do with the release of critically acclaimed features like Akira or Spirited Away, but many American millennials also see series like Dragon Ball Z as cultural touchstones. This is an anecdotal example, but many of the people I've met who regularly watch anime are drawn to the original Japanese dialogue, which is perceived to have higher-quality voice acting than English dubs.
I know that I personally have been more open to foreign language cinema since I started watching anime, so maybe it's the same for others.
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After losing the hearing in my left ear, plus tinnitus, with a love of BBC productions - need subtitles! Luckily, I'm a speed reader. But wish the subtitles stay at the bottom vs across the face of the actors.
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@ALG Yup! That's me as well. I also stayed away from foreign movies with subtitles' but that was before I needed hearing aids. Now I don't care, because I use subtitles for all movies.
But I have another complaint in addition to words across faces. I don't need to have the subtitles say "tires screeching" when I watch a car chase. Duh.
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Ideally, I'd like to speak every language. Seeing as that's not possible, subtitles are a sufficient alternative. Subtitles are definitely preferably to dubs.
At the same time though, they do require a cognitive effort. Once your mind settles into the rhythm of reading, looking and hearing at the same time, you generally forget the subtitles even exist.
However, I don't always want to go through that effort in the same way I don't always want to watch an Oscar nominated film. High cinema can be extremely tedious. Sometimes you just want Ernest P. Worrell.
If you want the mental exercise though, the better way to use subtitles is to watch an English language movie with the subtitles for your target foreign language turned on.
You want to learn Spanish? Watch all your favorite films while reading the Spanish subtitles. When you're done with that, see if you can find a Spanish version and watch that with subtitles. Then start watching Spanish language films with Spanish subtitles. Move on to books.
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I love foreign films and do watch them but there are times when I won't because of the subtitles -- I may be a bit tired and just don't feel like reading them or I may be watching a movie simply as a little diversion and don't want to have to concentrate on having to read them.
More than anything, tough, it really does subtract from the movie-watching experience -- every second you're reading is one fewer second you get to really watch the movie. You do get used to it but it's just not the same.
I'll keep watching foreign films, just not as often as English-speaking films.
1
A request from an older viewer - please do not show white subtitles against a light colored background! Many times I can't read what the characters are saying. I don't think that putting the subtitles in a box with a dark background is going to hurt the film. If you can't do that, at least give the viewer a few seconds more of the subtitle so that we can follow what is going on. After all, if the main purpose of a film is communication,why make it so hard?
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@Bob Butler Better yet with today's wide-screen movies there is all that black space above and below the film. How about putting the titles there!
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@Bob Butler I agree. I thought yellow was standard now.
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@Bob Butler
This is the one and only thing about sub-titles that drives me nuts. I watch quite a lot of sub-titled movies and TV shows. I'll also frequently turn on CC if characters have thick accents or actors mumble (this happens A LOT). So, I'm used to sub-titles.
But white-on-white captions are ridiculous and useless! Would it cost too much to give them a black background? How about a drop-shadow it that's too aesthetically too displeasing. Something!
8
If the film is in a language I speak I find English subtitles very distracting. I'm constantly mentally critiquing the translator's choice of words or phrasing. If it is in a language I don't speak, then after a while I don't notice the subtitles at all. They are simply part of the background of the film. When I show films to people who don't speak the language I suggest that they just concentrate of the film and let the subtitles flow in the back of their mind.
3
Probably over half the movies and shows I watch are foreign - mainly Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and French. The only real problem I have with subtitles is that some streamers do not handle them very well for formatting.
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Excellent point. Just rented Parasite via Apple TV. Great film, but the subtitle formatting detracted from the experience. White text was often lost within recurrent white backgrounds.
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