# WHY Don't WE See MORE French Films In The USA? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 14, 2004, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474 "2004-01-14T23:07:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/22 "2004-01-15T16:13:03Z")
You can catch French (and other foreign films) on IFC and other cable channels. I don’t mind subtitles much as long as the action isn’t too fast. I always feel like I’m missing something when I’m reading the subs. I wish they’d dub more foreign films. The film “Run” was easy to follow because there wasn’t much dialogue. Other than that, I just feel it does the movie an injustice. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/23 "2004-01-15T16:26:35Z")
> [@medstar](#): > > I have a few theories: > … > Incidentally, there was a miniseries of **The Count of Monte Cristo** starring Gerard Depardieu on cable TV a few years back that was entirely in french, and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Oooh, I’ve heard of that. Anyone know where I can find it, or if it will be showing on cable again? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/24 "2004-01-15T18:38:55Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > On what data, pray, do you base this assertion? It is almost impossible to see a dubbed movie in the UK and Ireland. Foreign-language movies and TV programs are subtitled in most countries in Europe, with the notable exception of Germany. English-language movies and TV (of which there’s an awful lot) are subtitled _de rigeur_ in the Netherlands and Scandinavian, which is often cited as one reason people from those countries are so good at English. I’m sorry, I appear to be wrong. But I was going off of an article I read about the Italian voice actor strike, which said that Italy (and most of Europe) heavily preferred dubbed movies over subtitles, to the point of not watching subtitled movies. Apparently I was wrong, or have a faulty memory. Apologies. ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/25 "2004-01-15T19:05:36Z")
In my experience, the best way to find a good, French movie is searching by directors. You pretty much can’t go wrong with Luc Besson, obviously. Jean-Pierre Jeunet (director of Amélie) is responsible for classics like _Delicatessen_ and, my personal favorite, _La Cité des enfants perdus_ (City of lost Children) but, unfortunately, partly to blame for _Alien:Resurection_. I’m tempted to recommend Mathieu Kassovitz(sp?) just for the great _Le Haine_ (Hate), but I was dissapointed with _Les Rivières pourpres_ (The Crimson Rivers). I’ll have to wait for _Babylon Babies_ before I can form an opinion of him. Has anyone seen a valid point around here? I’m sure I had one just a minute ago… Oh, yes… Luc Besson and (I think) Jean-Pierre Jeunet are fairly well known in the U.S, wouldn’t it bee pretty easy to promote their movies? ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/26 "2004-01-15T19:22:56Z")
I watch a lot of foreign films, and I also go through the _immersion_ thing. After awhile, I’m like, what subtitles? My roommate, on the other hand, is a bit manic, and has trouble focusing on subtitles… Her brain can’t handle the switch. So we watched **Wasabi** dubbed last week. A Japanese girl pretending to speak with a French accent in English is just not easy to comprehend. Upon preview… Luc Besson is not very popular on this side of the pond. **The Fifth Element** never reached a wide mainstream audience, and **Joan of Arc** was a flop. **La Femme Nikita** was probably his biggest hit in the US, and that was 12 years ago. And personally, I can’t imagine **Wasabi** playing here–I expected a cross between **Lost and Translation** and **NYPD Blue** , and all I got was a **Made for Lifetime** movie. Yuck. That being said, **UselessGit** ’s recommendations are excellent. I loved **Hate**. A far, far superior film to **American History X** , as I tell everyone who mentions that Norton pile of poo to me. We get a good influx of French films direct-to-video here, I’ve always found the video store a better place to find movies than the theaters. It just means waiting several years longer. ☹ I think it was about 4 years between hearing about **French Twist** and being able to rent it. It also depends on your region/store. The more affluent areas of town generally have better foreign film selections, also university areas and art districts. Your Blockbuster card will work at any store in the country, so explore! I did see **Amelie** and **The Closet** in art theaters in Chapel Hill, NC (A pretentious, liberal, yuppy college town), but I prefer French indie films like **The Dreamlife of Angels**. I agree with the despair, but I put forth the assertion that we’re only seeing the creme de la creme of the French film industry–only the best/most popular make it to our shores. If we saw all 168 films, I suspect we’d find a film industry parallel to our own. ---
**Author:** ![ouisey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9fc29f/32.png) [@ouisey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouisey)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2004, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/27 "2004-01-15T20:33:11Z")
Meanwhile, I’ll never get to see Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar or Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. Rotten Tomatoes says that there will be a limited release in 2004. Something tells me that won’t include Kansas City. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/28 "2004-01-16T00:11:14Z")
> [@pimpdaddylongstroke](#): > > It’s because they are lovey-dovey romances, and they suck! Watch either “Triplets of Beliville” or “City of the Lost Childern” and get back to me. ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/29 "2004-01-16T12:46:09Z")
**ouisey** , If you do get a chance to see _Mission Cleopatra_ look out for **Mathieu Kasovitz** , the director of _Hate_ and _Crimson Rivers_ - he has a bit part… on second thought, without prejudging this fine Asterisk Movie, I think his performance as “The Mugger” in _The Fifth Element_ **Rysler** - If only I had a hat so that I could remove it in your honour, or at least tip it towards you in a knowing way… spot on with _Hate_ Vs. _American History X_. BTW are those little squarey things we use to code called brackets? If so, I hereby offer my sincerest curses to brackets and their creator. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/30 "2004-01-16T13:49:49Z")
Subtitles have never bothered me. It takes Denver awhile to get movies, French and otherwise, but we _eventually_ do receive them. Really enjoyed _Ridicule_. Have heard from a couple people (Yank and Aussie) that this movie really helped them understand French culture, with its many subtleties and superficialities. Still waiting for _To Be and To Have._ Anyone seen that old gangster-caper movie, _Rififi_? Dated but fun. There was a more recent French movie about a deaf schoolmarmish type who hooked up with a young guy fresh out of prison; together they conceived a plan to rip off the local crime lord. Can’t recall the title. Does anyone remember this film? ---
**Author:** ![oAMADEUSo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@oAMADEUSo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oAMADEUSo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/31 "2004-01-16T15:56:16Z")
Speaking from england generaly you have to go to a smaller cinema to see a subtitled film also. Unless it’s one of the major films like spirited away. The last french film I saw was Irreversible. Phew! Do not watch that film drunk! Apart from the very nasty bit in the middle the camera work is very “art house” I would recomend you seeing though because when the film was over I was left gobsmacked for about 10 minutes. Very powerful stuff. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/32 "2004-01-16T20:50:07Z")
**ouisey** posted: "Meanwhile, I’ll never get to see Asterix and Obelix vs Caesar or Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra. Rotten Tomatoes says that there will be a limited release in 2004. Something tells me that won’t include Kansas City." I feel your pain. I wanted to see these movies too, so we went to e-bay and got the first one and I’ve watched it a few times. It’s pretty good. Just yesterday, I ordered the second one, and we should be getting it soon. However, they are not subtitled. That’s okay with me, as I can generally get the gist of what they’re talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Rashak\_Mani](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@Rashak\_Mani](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rashak_Mani)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/33 "2004-01-17T02:33:38Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I hate this argument. AFAIK, American audiences are the only ones who will tolerate subtitles. ``` One more post to knock you down... only kid films and TV dubb films. Cinemas put subtitles in everything else in most countries I've been too. I have only heard the notion of "hate to read subtitles" from Americans and Brazilians who have bad reading skills. I suppose americans aren't as used to subtitles as other people, since hollywood does produce so many movies, but those americans that aren't watching foreign movies surely are missing out on a LOT of very good stuff. Some independent US movies are very good too. ``` ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/34 "2004-01-17T02:55:53Z")
Well, working in a movie theatre last summer showed me how many moviegoers really appreciate the concept of a foreign film. Yes, there were a good chunk of people who came up the box office to purchase a ticket for one of our many foreign language films that we’d gotten, but it was not the majority of the people who came to see movies. Often enough, I’d say about every day at least once, there’d be an occasion where someone would come up to the box office, ask about the foreign movie, and as soon as I’d said it was in [insert language here], they’d automatically interrupt me and say something akin to, “I don’t want to see that; it’s not in English.” To be honest, it was more older adults than younger adults making this comment about the movie. It wasn’t that the movie was subtitled, it’s that it wasn’t in English throughout the whole movie. :rolleyes: As a big fan of foreign films, I can’t understand why someone _wouldn’t_ want to watch a film in its original language, anime included. Often enough, the translation will be bad with dubbing, and they’ll screw up the characterization through the English dubbing actor’s vocalizations. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/35 "2004-01-20T08:21:43Z")
I just saw “SWIMMING POOL”-really good! I liked the offbeat style of this movie…the plot kept you guessing about what was going to happen next…oh, and that chick was HOT! (For those of you who haven’t seen it, the publisher’s daughter was a real hot little number). Anyway, the movie was so different from the usual Hollywood-juvenile crap! Madeyou think, and kept surprising you. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2004, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/36 "2004-01-20T10:41:52Z")
> [@SmackFu](#): > > I don’t see any reason to single out French films. There are plenty of good films from other countires that don’t get shown here. The French invented movies. That’s the best reason to single them out. ---
**Author:** ![Art\_Barber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@Art\_Barber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Art_Barber)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/37 "2004-01-23T14:39:14Z")
Personally, I think subtitles has _something_ to do with it, but is not the whole story. The truth is, some subtitled movies have done fairly well over here: _Nine Queens_ and _Son of the Bride_, both from Argentina (and starring the same guy, forgot his name); _Shall We Dance?_, from Japan (which is being remade in English! WTF!); _Martha’s Kitchen_, from Germany, and certainly not least _Life is Beautiful_, from Italy. Although _Amelie_ did well here, I think French movie don’t do well here for other reasons. For one, they tend to be talky, slow moving, and have minimal action. These traits don’t endear them to American audiences, and the extensive dialog is exactly what you don’t want in a subtitled movie. Also, their comedies tend to be a little mean-spirited. Finally, _Swimming Pool_ is not a selling point; rather, it’s a pointless movie that can’t decide what it wants to be and finishes up by baffling the audience; maybe the director thought the audience had to pay a penance for thoroughly enjoying an admittedly nice set of tits. Finally, an aside: Wolfgang Peterson’s _Das Boot_ wasn’t subtitled; rather, it was masterfully dubbed in English to the point that many sections don’t seem dubbed at all. My feeling is, too many foreign directors don’t make the effort; if movies were dubbed better, they might increase their audience here. How hard could it be? Art ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/38 "2004-01-23T19:11:08Z")
_Das Boot_ was subtitled. I’ve seen it on the big screen and on video and it was subtitled both times. A dubbed version was also released later. Personally, I can’t watch a dubbed, live-action film. I find it disturbing. I think Spain (in addition to afrementioned Germany and Italy) is another country in which foreign movies are usually dubbed. Fact is a lot of French films are released here. I’ve noticed a few posters above who bemoan the lack of French product here who also mention they’ve seen lots of French films. I’ve seen a lot too. All of them in the U.S. Generally, if a movie has garnered commercial or critical success abroad it will be considered for American release. That’s to a point of course. Boliwood potboilers may be big hits in India, but they have little potential here. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/39 "2004-01-23T19:28:38Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I’m sorry, I appear to be wrong. But I was going off of an article I read about the Italian voice actor strike, which said that Italy (and most of Europe) heavily preferred dubbed movies over subtitles, to the point of not watching subtitled movies. > > Apparently I was wrong, or have a faulty memory. > > Apologies. Just to allow you to save face; it seems that everyone who contradicts you is from an English speaking nation (as am I - I don’t know when I last saw a dubbed movie) which doesn’t mean your original observation is wrong. Perhaps in Europe they do dub everything. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/40 "2004-01-29T20:02:49Z")
> [@don't ask](#): > > Just to allow you to save face; it seems that everyone who contradicts you is from an English speaking nation (as am I - I don’t know when I last saw a dubbed movie) which doesn’t mean your original observation is wrong. Perhaps in Europe they do dub everything. FWIW: I have a kid going to school in a decently sized city in France who happens to be a movie buff. He says _everything_ is dubbed into French, he has not seen any subtitles. He watched ROTK in French, but was able to get over to London over winter break to see/hear it in English. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474/41 "2004-01-30T01:44:14Z")
> [@](#): > > AFAIK, American audiences are the only ones who will tolerate subtitles. Other countries dub American films into their native language I have it on first-hand report that Swedes, having only about 9 million native speakers, don’t get the dubbed versions. They get subtitles, with bad translations of slang, as I hear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-we-see-more-french-films-in-the-usa/224474.md?page=3)