The Translator(2021)

bfchris

I respectfully disagree that there's no emotion. While we aren't given privileged access behind the scenes of protest organizing, where we might have seen emotional discussions among leaders, we do see the emotions of the families under the dictatorship. The two sisters(-in-law) certainly are emotional at times, as is Kareem, the main character's nephew. The only unemotional one is Sami, the protagonist, and it didn't bother me. His force of will was stronger at some times, weaker at others, as with any normal person, and that will—not tears or angry outbursts—drove his thoughts and actions. Some people are just that way, and Sami's flat affect conveyed all the characters' feeling of hopelessness. I did have to go back and rewatch at 5:00 when around 45:00 they mentioned Sami's "slip of the tongue," as I'd missed it. So pay close attention to his first translation in the film! Instead of an epic of the freedom movement, the producers and director chose to examine the effects of the dictatorship and freedom movement in one extended family, making this a quieter film, one which made its points well.

Saint Pauly

Like a poorly translated document, the main idea comes across, but not the emotion. A Syrian translator living in Australia goes back to his home country during the Arab spring to rescue his brother from prison. The story is interesting but drained of emotion… It looks good on paper but not so much on the screen.