Foreign language programmes
Discussion
I may be alone in this, but I'm drawn more to foreign drama programmes in some languages than others. It should make no difference, because I use English subtitles, but I've found that for me it really does. I don't know whether it's the quality of the programmes, or the language used. Scandinavian programmes are generally very good. Some French programmes also. I started watching the French series Braquo again, which is brilliant, but it had been dubbed in Spanish. Even with subtitles, it ruined it and was unwatchable, like watching a spaghetti Western. I can't think of a Spanish drama I've enjoyed, or Italian, or Polish. I've watched a couple of German series, which were OK. Maybe just me.
lornemalvo said:
I can't think of a Spanish drama I've enjoyed, or Italian
Entrevias is very good. Narcos (Mexican) is superb. Money Heist was good but went on too long I thought. Gomorrah in Italian is very good. Suburra too.
Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Tuesday 3rd June 17:17
Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Tuesday 3rd June 17:19
TwigtheWonderkid said:
lornemalvo said:
I can't think of a Spanish drama I've enjoyed, or Italian
Entrevias is very good. Narcos (Mexican) is superb. Money Heist was good but went on too long I thought. Gomorrah in Italian is very good. Suburra too.
Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Tuesday 3rd June 17:17
Edited by TwigtheWonderkid on Tuesday 3rd June 17:19
quigonjay said:
There is three that are easily in my top ten of all time - The Bridge, The Killing and Dark
Loved the Bridge. As for The Killing (the original Danish one) , I have never, ever felt as much tension watching a drama. The acting was simply incredible. The American version couldn't possibly hope to live up to it (Why did they even bother, don't Americans have the attention span to watch a programme with subtitles?). I haven't seen The Dark, but I'm not keen on horror filmslornemalvo said:
quigonjay said:
There is three that are easily in my top ten of all time - The Bridge, The Killing and Dark
Loved the Bridge. As for The Killing (the original Danish one) , I have never, ever felt as much tension watching a drama. The acting was simply incredible. The American version couldn't possibly hope to live up to it (Why did they even bother, don't Americans have the attention span to watch a programme with subtitles?). I haven't seen The Dark, but I'm not keen on horror filmsI watch a lot of foreign TV series on Netflix. My faves so far :
Kleo - East German Stasi agent runs riot in a unified Germany. Funny, retro and very odd in places, like Killing Eve on acid.
Dark - Like a German Stranger things, but adult and much more complicated. I never felt it quite achieved it's true potential, but was good fun.
Dix pour cent - Comedy-drama about a French talent agency and their 'talent'. It's very charming and includes a bunch of French celebrities playing themselves.
Lupin - Heist series following a French Raffles type character and his friends & family as he seeks revenge on various people. Amusing and entertaining, in the style of Sherlock.
A very secret service - A french comedy-spy series set in the 1960s and playing to all the French tropes.
Kleo - East German Stasi agent runs riot in a unified Germany. Funny, retro and very odd in places, like Killing Eve on acid.
Dark - Like a German Stranger things, but adult and much more complicated. I never felt it quite achieved it's true potential, but was good fun.
Dix pour cent - Comedy-drama about a French talent agency and their 'talent'. It's very charming and includes a bunch of French celebrities playing themselves.
Lupin - Heist series following a French Raffles type character and his friends & family as he seeks revenge on various people. Amusing and entertaining, in the style of Sherlock.
A very secret service - A french comedy-spy series set in the 1960s and playing to all the French tropes.
tangerine_sedge said:
I watch a lot of foreign TV series on Netflix. My faves so far :
Kleo - East German Stasi agent runs riot in a unified Germany. Funny, retro and very odd in places, like Killing Eve on acid.
Dark - Like a German Stranger things, but adult and much more complicated. I never felt it quite achieved it's true potential, but was good fun.
Dix pour cent - Comedy-drama about a French talent agency and their 'talent'. It's very charming and includes a bunch of French celebrities playing themselves.
Lupin - Heist series following a French Raffles type character and his friends & family as he seeks revenge on various people. Amusing and entertaining, in the style of Sherlock.
A very secret service - A french comedy-spy series set in the 1960s and playing to all the French tropes.
Kleo and Lupin both great Kleo - East German Stasi agent runs riot in a unified Germany. Funny, retro and very odd in places, like Killing Eve on acid.
Dark - Like a German Stranger things, but adult and much more complicated. I never felt it quite achieved it's true potential, but was good fun.
Dix pour cent - Comedy-drama about a French talent agency and their 'talent'. It's very charming and includes a bunch of French celebrities playing themselves.
Lupin - Heist series following a French Raffles type character and his friends & family as he seeks revenge on various people. Amusing and entertaining, in the style of Sherlock.
A very secret service - A french comedy-spy series set in the 1960s and playing to all the French tropes.
A lot of it comes down to the performance of the actors and the nuances in their voicing, even if you don't understand the language. That's why overdubs are often horrible. Subtitles are preferable most of the time IMO.
One thing about subtitles though is that they can often leave a lot out/rephrase dialogue, in the interests of brevity so you can actually read and keep up with the dialogue. Depends how wordy the source material is.
If you are trying to learn another language though, it can be very useful to watch in the original language and read the subs, or even vice versa. You can pick up a surprising amount of vocabulary by hearing something and reading a translation- one of the reasons why English is so widely understood around the planet since so much entertainment media is English language source.
One thing about subtitles though is that they can often leave a lot out/rephrase dialogue, in the interests of brevity so you can actually read and keep up with the dialogue. Depends how wordy the source material is.
If you are trying to learn another language though, it can be very useful to watch in the original language and read the subs, or even vice versa. You can pick up a surprising amount of vocabulary by hearing something and reading a translation- one of the reasons why English is so widely understood around the planet since so much entertainment media is English language source.
Would also like to add El Marginal
https://imdb.com/title/tt5820976/
Absolutely fantastic Spanish prison drama
https://imdb.com/title/tt5820976/
Absolutely fantastic Spanish prison drama
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