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20:10 Jun 10, 2011
French to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
French term or phrase:un sentiment drapé
I'm curious about this line from Godard's "Film Socialisme" which is translated in the (unofficial) subtitles as "a proud feeling."
The "official" (and truly bizarre so-called "Navajo English") subtitles translate it as "draped feeling."
Is this an expression in French with which I am unfamiliar? "Un sentiment drapé"?
And if it isn't, does anyone have any idea what a "draped feeling" is?
Just a quick follow up in case someone is interested: having (red-faced) now discovered this is also in HIstoire(s) du cinéma, I went to the DVD and found the translation in its subtitles: "sentiment drapé" is translated as "draped feeling." Such an awkward phrase in English. Perhaps also in French.
As for amour prochain: the transcript in the link Phil provided (to the script of the film) is incorrect. It is amour du prochain, which is translated in the subtitles as "loving others..."
You're welcome ! By the way the lines I quoted were really from Phil's link so he's the one to be thanked for that ! And again, as to the veiled or not veiled aspect of the feeling, it deepends on how you understand the whole passage... The question about amour prochain can be argued upon next time... :)
First, regarding "main" -- those who point to the root of manifestation are spot on; and Godard is clearly playing on that (and it is also a very complex reference not only to de Rougemont's text, Penser avec les mains, but also to Chris Marker's Le fond de l'air est rouge and its lovely opening sequence).
I'm mortified not to have realized this reference in Film Socialisme alludes to that passage Dieezah quotes from Histoire(s) du cinéma. That actually helps a ton. Thank you. The distinction here is between an act (une main tendue) and a sentiment (and a drapé one at that!).
Which raises the question for my mediocre french: amour du prochain is charity, but amour prochain? the same? But this need not be answered here.
Thanks enormously for the help and interesting discussion.
There you have it ! I could not have given an exemple that specific since I never took latin classes... Shows that together we can still work it out.... Now about the "drapé" thing, thanks to Phil's context link, I (might be wrong again) understand "un sentiment drapé" as being used in the same way as when people say "elle se drape dans sa dignité" . So to me it would mean basically that you "show love through your actions because it is not just a feeling you wrap around yourself like a coat that you want to impress people with..." Ok that's a lenghty messy explanation of what I understand it to mean... My apologies, it's because it's half past two in the morning, I need some sleep...
" l’amour prochain est un acte
I think (well it seems obvious to me anyway but I might be wrong) that " dans manifeste il y a main" refers simply to the latin origin of the french word "manifeste"... Since in many European languages of latin origin you can trace the common root to different words.... manufacture= fabrique à la main, manucure= s'occupe de la main, I think the primal sense of "manifester" might have been along the lines of "montrer avec la main"....
1. To arrange or fold (something) about as cover or protection: She wrapped her fur coat closely about herself.
2. To cover, envelop, or encase, as by folding or coiling something about. (thefreedictionary)
"sentiment drapé" n'est pas une expression francaise courante du tout. C'est très créatif. On peut penser à "se draper dans sa dignité", qui évoque l'orgueil et en même temps s'enrouler dans quelque chose pour se protéger etc. (voire - d'après les références - se draper dans un drapeau). Ou même arrangé esthétiquement. L'opposé d'agir, tendre la main, manifester sa présence (toujours réf.)
Thanks for the replies.
It is Fr>Eng. The original is "un sentiment drapé."
It's hard to give context - it is not in dialogue but in a (characteristically for late godard as jmleger has already indicated) somewhat disjointed, allusive and elusive, voiceover commentary.
Here's the original text (taken from the published "script":
"Et dans manifeste il y a main
Non pas un sentiment drapé un idéal un sourire
Qui congédie l'univers"
I think the translation of "veiled/hidden" might be pretty good, actually; because of the odd subtitles (which are incorrect in other places; for example translatining "congédie" as "conjure" (as in magical conjuring), as well as an article about the film which translates drapé as "proud", I was a bit confused and I had wondered if there was a French idiomatic expression with "drapé" with which I was unfamiliar.
it does not make sense otherwise. In French you are always Drapé in something.. the curtains, some material etc. drapé is nary used by itself. Godard has never been easy to understand, but with Socialisme, I think he may have pété un câble. He has metagodarded himself