{"id":1755,"date":"2023-12-14T21:11:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T21:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.apextra.fr\/translation-of-an-iconic-cinematic-line\/"},"modified":"2024-09-13T12:02:46","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T12:02:46","slug":"translation-of-an-iconic-cinematic-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apextra.fr\/en\/translation-of-an-iconic-cinematic-line\/","title":{"rendered":"Translation of an iconic cinematic line"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As the year draws to a close, we\u2019d like to take a look back at the classic Christmas film \u201cHome Alone<\/em>,\u201d released in 1990. If you\u2019ve already seen this film, you\u2019ll remember the iconic line “Keep the change, you filthy animal<\/em>,\u201d which appears several times during the protagonist\u2019s adventures. In fact, this line, uttered by young Kevin McCallister, has become a cinematic meme<\/em>, especially among English-speaking audiences However, how do you translate a line like this in another language<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n

To begin with, a quick memory refresher is in order for those who don\u2019t remember this scene very well: In the film, the young protagonist, Kevin McCallister, is inadvertently left alone at home during Christmas, while his family goes on vacation. The scene in question takes place when Kevin orders a pizza (earlier in the film, while watching a fictional black-and-white film called \u201cAngels with Filthy Souls,\u201d the film\u2019s character utters this line rather dramatically before shooting someone). Kevin then uses this line as if he\u2019s talking to the pizza guy, asking him to keep the change while pretending he\u2019s armed. Later in the film, Kevin uses this same recording to fool burglars trying to break into his house.<\/p>\n\n

Original Version, English<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

In its original version, the line \u201cKeep the change, you<\/em> filthy<\/em>animal<\/em>\u201d is loaded with humor and contempt, to say the least. In fact, a quick look back at the scene: when the delivery man calls Kevin a \u201ccheapskate,\u201d it\u2019s because he only leaves him a 20-cent tip ($12, while his pizza costs $11.80), whereas in the USA, the usual tip is 15%.<\/p>\n\n

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Its sarcastic tone captivates English-speaking audiences, all the more so when spoken by Kevin to the burglar, underscoring his mischievous yet ingenious character. Ultimately, it\u2019s the delivery of this line that makes it so powerful, and therein lies the challenge for the translators: maintain that delicate balance between contempt and humor.<\/p>\n\n

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