I took my son to see The Princess and the Frog yesterday in "VF" (the French version). This is a wee bit of a miracle for me because I absolutely abhor seeing American films in French. Usually, if it’s not in “VO” (original version or language) I wait for the DVD. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to see kids’ movies in English here… unless your kids are nite owls.

When it comes to American kids’ movies in Paris, you cannot see them in English unless you go late at night, because that’s the only time they run them. For example, “The Princess and the Pea” is showing…in English…near my home…but at 10:00 p.m.! This is not the first time. It happened to us with Bolt. With Alvin and the Chipmunks 2…Monsters vs. Aliens…and countless other films. Sometimes I give in to the French version (major annoyance for me) or I let my son go with his French-speaking papa (but even HE prefers the English version, sigh.) So what to do?

Unless it’s summer vacation or some other school vacation, and of course, depending on your child’s age, you just have to suck it up…unless you find somebody in the cinema industry or the marie to write….hmmmmm…Yeah, probably not going to happen. While the American movies (adult) are shown in VO at “normal” hours, the kids (American, French, and bilingual too) are pretty much obligated to watch their American movies in French.

I guess it makes perfect sense though…The French (in general) do not speak English very well. Teaching English for five years here confirmed that. But here’s one of the reasons why: Everything is translated. Every single American TV show, movie, etc. I still don’t understand that because they want to become better in English. Many, many French people have told me that. They too yearn to hear the original voices of the characters and I can’t blame them. I cannot watch CSI Miami in French no matter how good it is!

But back to the Princess….I must say….even in French…it was great! We really enjoyed it. China Moses (an American tele presenter and singer who grew up in France) does a good job as the princess. It was the first time I remember actually forgetting about being annoyed that I wasn’t watching something in its original version.

Yeah, that good. Maybe that's what I needed all along to remind me that sometimes, it's not only about the language.

"The Princess and the Frog"
Playing at theatres everywhere in Paris…
Just about.

www.allocine.fr

Comments (1)