On dubbing in Russia.

[patodruida.livejournal.com]

I know this is slightly off-topic, but please bear with me.
The recent discussion on translation and cultural differences got me thinking...

A few of the countries I have visited in Europe, Russia included, have a tendency to dub most of the films coming in foreign languages (as opposed to adding subtitles to them).

They do that where I live too, but not quite as often and there are laws that compel cinemas to have at least one theatre with the original version.

I guess dubbing is done to make it easier for average people to understand films; to protect the local film industry and to preserve the language but...

Am I the only one here who believes that by substituting the voice of an actor for another you are inevitably and completely altering the artistic value of a given cinematic piece?

I mean, an actor's inflections, enunciation and verbal expression in general may account for as much as 75% of his performance.
How will you really know how good an actor Sir Lawrence Olivier was if, instead of his voice, you hear some other person speaking his parts? And in another language?

Any thoughts?

Comments

[schwarzer-tod.livejournal.com]

The majority of Americans feel that dubbing is in extremely poor taste; I personally am a subtitling militant. The only exception of which I know is "Cowboy Bebop".

I bought a couple of films in Russian, and both of them were voiced-over by one or two people. I don't understand how someone can watch an entire movie where every character is voiced by the same person. Yet all the time I have to hear "heh heh stupid americans don't watch foreign films they so ignorant". Give me a break. Anyone in college watches at least -some- foreign films.

[patodruida.livejournal.com]

Making bold, unsubstantiated assessments about the ignorance or stupidity of an entire nation (specially a foreign nation) usually says little about such nation... but it speaks volumes about the person passing judgment and about his/her prejudices.

You tell me. I have spent a considerable amount of time during my travels explaining to the locals that I have never worn a "sombrero" in my life and that "andale, andale" is not a part of my everyday vocabulary.

But prejudice goes both ways and sometimes even more. You really don't want to know what some of my less-than-clever Mexican acquaintances have been known to say about the Missus, who happens to be Russian!
:)

[schwarzer-tod.livejournal.com]

What would Mexicans say about Russians? Trotsky jokes? :P

[patodruida.livejournal.com]

You are far too generous by suggesting Trotsky is a household name in Mexico.

No, they make lap-dancing jokes.