Doing it Their Way
One of the things that strikes me about Israelis is their insistence on doing things their way. Call it stubbornness, if you will. After all, G-d did not call Israel a “stiff-necked people” for nothing.
One area in which this phenomenom is apparent is Hebrew translations of English language movies, which, more often than not, are very different from the original titles. It is almost as if the Hebrew translators are saying “We do not like your title. The movie should be called this.” For example, in Hebrew, The Princess Bride is called The Magical Princess, and Groundhog Day is called Waking Up Yesterday.
I am sure the same issue arises with English movies dubbed into Hebrew. At least I am, after reading this:
The Hebrew-dubbed version of Shrek 2 was banned Monday from the big screen in Israel until a reference to singer David Da’or is removed from the translation. Da’or’s name is mentioned in a pejorative context, he claimed.Da’or, a singer known for his high voice, submitted his request Sunday for an injunction, after the translators rendered “let’s bobbitt him” into “na’aseh lo ma’aseh David Daor” – “let’s David Da’or him.”
“To bobbitt” is a new word in the English language, referring to amputation of the penis with a pair of scissors.
The Tel Aviv District Court approved the movie’s withdrawal at Daor’s urgent behest.
Update: And yet another Israeli phenomenom – media that cannot agree on the facts.* Here is the same report on the Jerusalem Post:
Da’or, a singer well known for his high-pitched voice, asked the court to issue a temporary injunction against the screening of the film, after the remark, “Let’s give him the Bob Barker treatement,” a reference to the anti-animal castration activist, was translated into “Let’s David Da’or him down there.”
So what is it? Bobitt or Bob Barker?!
* This also occurred yesterday when Ha’aretz reported that PLO Arabs hid explosives in a pickle jar, while Jerusalem Post maintained they were hidden in a milk container.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: MT Archives
wow I see your comment system is getting real fancy here dave.
as for the david d’or dude, well can’t say I’m a fan..
hahah! great post
really? coz I read a report that said it was in a briefcase. lol
“The Princess Bride” was one of my favorite movies when growing up in Israel, and obviously later on in life I had a really hard time finding “The Magical Princess” and never understood why with such well known actors, no one ever heard of the bloody film.
Then I discovered imdb
Out of curiosity, what’s “Independance Day” translated to in Hebrew? And “Legally Blonde”?
Though, you have to admit, there’s no translating “Groundhog Day” into Hebrew correctly. In French, it was translated into something like “The Day With No End”
Hi Micol,
Independence Day is The Third Day, and Legally Blonde is Not Just a Blonde
I can’t believe you forgot the best title translation ever: Top Gun was translated into Love In The Sky.
and just one more: Terminator became Lethal Mission.
I can’t believe you forgot the best title translation ever: Top Gun was translated into Love In The Sky.
and just one more: Terminator became Lethal Mission.
“Bob Barker” is an “anti-animal castration activist”? Clearly something has been lost in translation, there. He ended every show by exhorting his audience to spay and neuter their pets.
Most films have different titles in other countries whose language isn’t English. It’s not something that is only done in Israel. It’s the same in France, Germany, Italy, Spain (add every non-English speaking country to that list).