A Rose By Any Other Name?

‘A FILM’S title is seldom a reliable indication of its contents, any more than the judiciously edited quotes on the poster (unless, of course, the phrase ”one of the best foreign films of the year” is used - translation: avoid at all costs).

Fat Bird Sinks Big Ship

But when a movie transfers to foreign shores, the Guardian reports that it isn’t just a question of subtitles and dubbing: the title itself must be changed too.

Out go the euphemism and whimsy of precious Hollywood. In comes the bracing literalism of the Chinese market, where a film is expected to do exactly what it says on the tin.

Boogie Nights thus finds itself rejoicing in the title His Powerful Device Makes Him Famous. Dumb and Dumber becomes Two Stupid Stupid People, while Pretty Woman is known to millions of Eastern punters as I’m Rich But I Like Prostitutes.

Even art house stalwarts don’t escape the brutal Eastern logic - Wretch! Let Me Chop Off Your Finger! is better known as The Piano among the carrot cake crowd.

Here at Anorak we can only applaud such frankness, and remind readers not to miss Channel 4’s major new literary adaptation tonight, Over-Hyped Re-Run of Kureishi, Rushdie and Amis.

‘

Posted: 17th, September 2002 | In: Broadsheets Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink