Don't listen to the idiots making a big deal about the use of Spanish

Both Spielberg and the media were "the idiots" who were making a big deal about the use of Spanish in this film. When Googling on the subject I found literally multiple dozens of articles on the subject. If it isn't different from say the use of Italian in a film like The Godfather then why were they making such a big deal out of it?

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I have to say it was a good publicity move to announce that it won't have English subtitles. I didn't even know it was a thing until a couple of days ago when I saw someone complaining about it.

Out of interest, what do you think they will do when people watch it on streaming or disc and they turn on the subtitles?

Just have the Spanish dialogue with Spanish subtitles maybe, or no subtitles at all?

Same here. I don't speak Spanish yet I was able to understand what was being communicated. The acting was superb and that was a major part of the communication. Also...much of the Spanish was immediately translated in English when the characters were reminded to "speak English!!!" Honestly, it was done very seamlessly.

The lack of subtitles is a non-issue. I am watching Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, a 40’s era British film, and it’s loaded with unsubtitled French and German. This never bothered me and doesn’t distract from the story. Doubtless there are many other newer examples. Shogun the TV miniseries, for instance. Lost in Translation, for another.


Spielberg would have done better not to even call attention to this. Modern audiences are more used to being spoon-fed and thanks to the internet, complain a lot more.

As usual, I think most of the complaints aren't because the Spanish isn't subtitled but because the filmmakers made a big deal about it with the statements. They made statements that people see as holier-than-thou while ignoring the fact that the reason subtitles are used for Spanish, in North American or British movies, is because the majority of the audience doesn't speak Spanish, not because the audience doesn't value Hispanic or Latin American culture. It's the smugness and the fact that it's making its smug point in an impractical way.

I saw a panel discussion once about political correctness or woke or whatever where a girl made the statement that society had barriers that supported people with privilege. Her example that she used was curbs on sidewalks, saying that they made life harder for people in wheelchairs. It took more than an hour, during the Q&A, for somebody to point out that there is a good reason sidewalks have curbs and it has nothing to do with being ablist or making life harder for people who have less privilege.

Um, we DO need to understand what is being said…you know, so we can understand what is going on?

I agree.
Sometimes you find need to know exactly what is being said.

I think back to The Godfather, when Michael is in the restaurant with Solozzo and McCluskey. Solozzo speaks Italian and there are no subtitles. The dialogue doesn't matter, what's important is the building of tension shown in Michael's eyes darting around the room. I think that if the dialogue had been in English it would detract from the visuals.