So I was stewing away in my own broth, not an hour ago, when I got to thinking. Why do movies released on DVD, manufactured here in Canada, dawn the film’s name in both English and French? I’ve never really understood that.
Yes I, of all people, am aware of what it’s like to be excluded. Not matter how unintentional or deliberate it might seem or is. But, better still, I fully appreciate providing both versions of the title is the law of an officially bilingual land.Â
But isn’t something as recognizable as a film’s title, on many more levels than how it’s written, its “brand?”
Like on the first day of French period in grade 4 Mrs. MacArthur, I’ll assume in attempts to properly be introduced to our class, went around the room and asked each of us for our names, then she, quite cleverly, “translated” them into French. Which was kind of an exercise in futility, really. Because aside from Peter being Pierre and John being Jean, everyone else just had their name repeated in a French accent.
Which suited me fine. I was the only kid in my class who had his name sounding legit when spoken in this other language. “Je m’appelle Jean.” Suck on that, Losers! We didn’t have a “Peter” in my grade 4 class. I was king!
Of course I see now that my name, John, translated into French is still just “John.” That’s my name. A name I was given. No matter what language it’s spoken in it will always be “John.”
Why is a film’s name different?