The Translators (2019) User Reviews

A literary whodunit by Régis Roinsard.

[DimitrisPassas-TapTheLine · 7/10 · 8 December 2020]

Welcome to the cruel world of the high-stakes international publishing business that suffocates true artistic creation for the sole purpose of profit. The Translators (original title: Les Traducteurs) is a 2019 French/Belgian production featuring a multinational cast and a slick screenplay that blends many different genres. The film is partly a typical closed-room mystery, a classic whodunit, a heist thriller, and a social commentary on the commercialization of literature in our age. The director, Régis Roinsard, who also co-authors the movie's script along with Romain Compingt and Daniel Presley, keeps the audience guessing from start to finish and has many surprises in store as the plot is filled with red herrings, twists, and third-act reversals that keep us on our toes throughout the film's runtime. The story focuses on the underappreciated job of translating literature, an endeavor often considered to be tedious and humdrum as, according to the majority of people, it doesn't require any special skill or merit. The film is dedicated to the translators around the world who work quietly and contribute to the propagation of artistic work to the masses. After the ending credits roll, the audience realizes that they have learned a bit more about this unthankful, yet vital, line of work.

The plot revolves around the forthcoming publication of the third installment of an extremely popular literary trilogy, written by Oscar Brach, a mysterious author who wishes to remain anonymous, his identity hidden from the public. Eric Angstrom, the publisher of the three novels, assembles a group of nine talented linguists from nine different countries of the world who will have to translate the 480 pages of the third volume in a month, working in total isolation from the external world. They work in a bunker beneath a French chateau and Russian armed guards are keeping an eye on them in order to prevent a possible leak of the manuscript to the public. When Angstrom receives an SMS to his mobile phone that informs him of the fact that the first 10 pages have already leaked to the internet, he will force the group into a lockdown in order to find out the guilty party.

Soon, more pages will get leaked and the unknown extortionist will ask for a substantial ransom in order not to give away the whole book. Angstrom becomes incensed and determined to solve the situation, regardless of the means he has to use and the possible consequences. The members of the group, on the other hand, become suspicious of one another and they begin to denounce possible culprits among them. The outcome is going to be tragic as some of the participants in this odd experiment will lose their lives.

The international cast gives solid performances with many celebrated thespians from all over the globe such as the Spanish Eduardo Noriega (Thesis, The Method), the stunning Russian Olga Kurylenko (Quantum of Solace, Oblivion), the Danish Sidse Babett Knudsen (Borgen, Westworld), the Greek Manolis Mavromatakis (The Enemy Within, Uranya), the German Anna Maria Sturm (Polizeiruf 110, Good Times), and the Italian Riccardo Scamarcio (Romanzo Criminale, Three Steps Over Heaven). The film's lingua franca is French, though there are sometimes that the characters speak in their native tongue to express their overwhelming emotions about their bizarre predicament. Lambert Wilson (The Matrix Reloaded, Catwoman) is exceptional in his portrayal of the greedy, sadistic head of the publishing house, Eric Angstrom.

The Translators is a movie that endorses an unconventional, yet not entirely original, narrative structure which includes the heavy use of flashbacks and flashforwards while there is a great heist scene interjected in the middle of the film's runtime. The last part of the movie is full of twists and surprises that are plausible and make sense, leaving no unanswered questions and room for alternative interpretations of the story. To sum up, this is a recommendable picture that will definitely be appreciated by crime fiction fans and all those who enjoy the cozy mysteries of the Golden Age era of the genre.

Great potential, but went flat somewhere

[exisce · 7/10 · 15 December 2020]

I almost feel sorry for this movie. I think it had such a great potential and could even be better as a mini-series. The plot is good, but I didn't like the storytelling, how they chose to unfold the story. The setting is good, the characters are interesting, and the first part of the movie was logical and near perfect. But starting somewhere in the middle the movie started to fall apart. All of a sudden, without any warning, they tell you who is the hacker. So the final twist becomes not so much a twist because there were clues dropped earlier, and now it has become obvious. I think the writers could have worked a little harder to tell the story in a more captivating way. For example, there could be more flashbacks to the characters' lives, or events in the past that led to the situation.

Nevertheless, I quite enjoyed the movie. Lambert Wilson is wonderful, as always, and a joy to watch and listen to in both French and English. Other actors are fine with me, too - except, perhaps, Sara Giraudeau who is frankly very unconvincing in her small role as the PA to a boss from hell. The soundtrack is also great, very suspenseful and spot on.

Disappointing

[Aus1964 · 5/10 · 18 October 2020]

Overly and unnecessarily complex plot, which seemed to embrace implausible complexity simply for the sake of it. Implausible motivations, and artificial characters that drew no sympathy.

Amazing plot...

[Thanos_Alfie · 7/10 · 9 April 2021]

"Les traducteurs" is a Mystery - Thriller movie in which we watch nine translators hired by a publisher to translate the last book of a bestselling trilogy. They all have a lot of work to do but everything change when the first ten pages of the book appear online and everyone is a suspect.

I liked this movie very much because it had a very interesting plot that was full of suspense and combined very well mystery with tension. In addition, the presence of some plot twists made the movie even more interesting. The direction which was made by Régis Roinsard, it was very good and I believe that he did an excellent job on the way he presented his main characters and also the story. The interpretations of Lambert Wilson who played as Eric Angstrom, Alex Lawther who played as Alex Goodman, Riccardo Scamarcio who played as Dario Farelli and Olga Kurylenko who played as Katerina Anisinova were very good and the combination of all those characters worked very well. To sum up, I have to admit that "Les traducteurs" was a nice surprise for me and I enjoyed it very much, I highly recommend everyone to watch it because it is very interesting and I am sure you will be surprised by it too.

Confusing

[omeralaa · 7/10 · 30 July 2020]

-(Who done it?) theme is one of the most entertaining themes for me, so did I enjoy that movie? well yes!

-Movies with this theme either try to help the viewer by pointing on a character then reveal another character as the criminal, pointing on a character then reveal him as the criminal or not pointing on anyone then reveal the criminal. The creativity in telling such this story is to make the reveal moment a huge thing, plot twisted moment and MAKE SENSE.

-The first act was good nearly great, the script was organized, the writer focused on setting up the crime, it was all good 'till the last half of second act everything started to be messed up, starting from the mystery solving it was childish and illogical, then things got confused and I started to ask myself "What did just happen? What is he saying? What are you talking about?", then a flood of "Deus ex machina" that happened about 3 times last 20 minutes

-I enjoyed the movie but it could be a way better.

Complicated film - not very enjoyable

[lorraine-benn · 6/10 · 15 December 2020]

I didn't really like this film as the setting was sterile and we hardly got to know the characters. The translators of a novel (third in a series) are all seated at desks in a room with no decor, like students in a school. I couldn't warm to any of the characters as they were hardly introduced to us and the fast-paced complicated plot began. I had trouble keeping up with the plot twists and found it difficult to know what was real and what was made up by the characters. For instance one scene shows everyone suspecting everyone else as the person who was leaking the story, then a later scene implies that all of them were in it together. This was referred to as an Agatha Christie type of film, yet there were no likable characters such as Poirot or Miss Marple. I like Agatha Christie films and have seen many, but this film didn't have the humour, beautiful scenery or quirky characters that those films have. I also liked the idea of a group of people translating a book into their own languages, but somehow the film lacked the sort of charm that I had imagined.

Hard work!

[Goloh · 7/10 · 28 October 2020]

This cerebral and complex film is not the sort of movie you can dip in and out of while you're thinking of something else. The good news is that the essentials of the plot and virtually all the characters are clearly introduced up front. The other news is that it becomes hard work to sort out the teasers, false leads, and almost Aristotelian logic on the way to a wonderfully constructed conclusion. I appreciate films that manage to tie up every loose end, and this one sure did.

Apart from giving great credit to the work translators must endure, the writers managed an intricate, multi-lingual wordplay at one point that -- to me anyway -- was the highlight of the film. So why only seven stars? Because honestly this film was hard for me to follow, but I can easily understand why others might rate it higher.

Underrated whodunnit gem

[mr-shcmr · 8/10 · 29 July 2020]

A wealthy book publisher locks 9 translators in a bunker to work on the last opus of the series that made his fortune, written by a secretive author that almost no one has seen. As the first pages get leaked to the public, the blackmailer and the publisher engage in a battle of wits where the publisher resorts to harsher and more cruel measures.

I was intrigued by the premise of this whodunnit, but afraid it would fail to entertain. Fortunately, the movie knows when to break its own rules to breathe and explore new directions. The movie starts slow but after about 15 minutes picks up pace and never drops it. The plot has a bagful of twists to entertain you, then as soon as you think it's done there's one more, and one more, then some more for good measure. All in only 1h45min of runtime that will never let you get bored. If every twist is simple and credible enough, the overall plot strains credulity, but no more than a typical movie of the genre. Apart from Lambert Wilson, the actors lack a little in charisma, but there's a refreshing simplicity to their roles and dialogues that makes them likeable. Where the movie is weak in my opinion is how it tries to link various plot elements to the sotry told by the book, which could have worked but feels artificial because the book doesn't have a separate existence. The whole 'translating' twist was a little underused, except in a dazzling scene where unfortunately it ends up making little difference. I watched the movie twice back to back and enjoyed it both times. A solid 8/10.

Boring but interesting

[sophia-67979 · 6/10 · 17 October 2020]

I found this quite boring & slow except for the end when you found out who did what. A few smart twists make it interesting enough to continue watching through the boring parts

Quite a mess!

[xuexizhongwen · 4/10 · 4 May 2020]

I got all excited when i red the movie summarry. The idea of the movie is really nice but the movie is so boring... OMG... Actors are bad except Lambert Wilson. What a waste of time and so painfull to watch till the end. You can guess the movie twist quicly. Honnestly it was uniteresting as hell. I don't recommand that movie. I'm quite angry that a good idea like that was wasted. Alex Lwther is a bad actor.

Spectacular

[johnnysotiria · 10/10 · 21 June 2020]

This one definitely made it to my list of favourite films! Superb acting, smart writing and excellent music! The mystery part is solid: you get glimpses of the resolution, you are given enough clues to make guesses but you will be at the edge of your seat till the last moment! The casting director did an amazing job and the director really took it to the next level! Kudos to everyone involved!!

ps. If you are an avid reader, a lover of books and bookshops or a sucker for literary mysteries you will fall head over heels in love with this movie!!

les traducteurs

[u-32187 · 7/10 · 20 June 2020]

It was such a touching story that uttered for the translator and moved to cry. I fought against the rights of the translator many years ago. Although I haven't been in this business for so many years, it hasn't changed much. The translator is always the lowest one. The power of literature mentioned in the movie may not be realized in our country.

Not worth it.

[hultso · 1/10 · 27 June 2020]

A terrible, full of clichés movie. The translator from Russia definitely needs to be a slim and sexy young woman, even without glasses. Russian guards definitely need ti look like KGB agents. Even the "Red Heat" with Arnold Schwartzennegger was more convincing than that. An intellectual movie? Thanks, but no thanks.

The story is good, the cast too, but...

[alain-gm-lortal · 7/10 · 30 January 2020]

There's a lot of good things in this movie... But the direction (and even the scenario's writing) lack of finition. Is it a question of budget (this one seem low, even with the standards of an european movie)? Maybe. In some years, we will see the US remake of this movie and it will be a landmark in cinema history...Who knows ?

Why Leak Online

[kindredparadox · 6/10 · 11 February 2021]

They are translators of popular fictional detective novel, the third installment nevertheless. They came from different countries and were put together in a bunker in some mansion by this greedy publisher to translate simultaneously from French to many languages. What happened next was that the parts of the book were sent in pieces incrementally to the internet until the publisher agreed to pay blackmail. There should a leaker among them. Then hunt for whodunit began

Apart from interesting things about literature, although seemed just a little bit, it is kind of entertaining to be in mystery of why it happened beyond financial motive

I felt a little dull watching this smart sequences of revelation. Partly somehow Les Traducteurs made sense out of nonsense

translator, traitor

[dromasca · 7/10 · 18 November 2020]

Traduttore, traditore: Translator, traitor - this ingenious consonance that seems to have originated from angry Italians who believed that many French translations of Dante betrayed either the beauty or the accuracy of the poet's work is gaining new meanings in 'Les traducteurs', the film from 2019 directed by Régis Roinsard (who is also co-author of the screenplay). It is a thriller of the kind that Agatha Christie would probably have written if she had lived in the 21st century. We find in it the formula of the closed enclosure where a finite number of characters are forced to live together in a space were crimes will sooner or later be committed and corpses will appear. All or almost all of those present are potential suspects. The surprises follow one another at a fast pace and the events are being told from the points of view of the various characters, which makes us, the spectators, to permanently change our perspectives on what we see. Unlike other films of the genre, even some of those that were based on Agatha Christie's novels, events are very dynamic until the last scene and the outcome does not disappoint. In a way, I can say that I liked the script more than the execution of the film.

'Les traducteurs' is also a film created with love for books and for those who try to migrate them through translations from one language to another. The heroes of the film are a group of 9 translators from 9 different countries who are hired by the head of a large publishing house (Lambert Wilson) to translate the 3rd and last volume of a highly successful trilogy written by a French writer whose identity is being kept secret. Working conditions, if we can call them so, are also special. To keep the text of the book secret, the 9 are brought together in a castle in luxury prison conditions - caviar and champagne on the one hand, armed guards and all links to the world cut off on the other. Rigorous security does not prevent the first ten pages of the volume from being published on the Internet, with the threat that if a huge amount of money is not paid, the rest of the chapters will be gradually made public. From here begins a series of events that include attempts by all means to discover the source of text leak and of the blackmail, but also to reveal the real personality of the mysterious writer.

The passion for literature and the critique of the publishing and book promotion system, the police intrigue and the action film meet on screen in 'Les traducteurs'. It is a combination of great potential that has only been partially fulfilled. I believe that the main problem was the too sketchy definition of most of the characters. It is important in such a film, with a finite number of characters, that each of them has enough time to reveal a personality of her or his own to the viewers and to occupy a distinct place in the action. This is not the case with most of the heroes in 'Les traducteurs'.. Fortunately, other important rules of the genre are strictly followed, the action happens at a fast pace, with surprises and changes of perspective until the last moment, using flashbacks intelligently and timely. 'Les traducteurs' could have been one of the beautiful surprises of the film season, even a big success. The film's path on screens was disrupted by the pandemic, but if the success was not complete, it was not only the pandemic that was to blame. Even so, this is one of the movies that look different in this odd season, a nice and interesting escapist entertainment at a time when we need such films.

a try

[Kirpianuscus · 2 July 2022]

Obvious, it is far to be a masterpiece. It is , in many senses, far to be a good film . And the sin for that is the ambition to give more than a reasonable story, proposing an almost absurd plot.

I love it for the remind of the art of Alex Lawther. For Lambert Wilson and Patrick Bauchau. And for the trace of classics books/ films.

I hate it for the status of awful demonstration . And for absurd ingredients - the paragraphs from Dedalus are real, real bad and the dialogues sound bad, to. The Russian guards, the manuscript story and the end are terrible.

The good point - maybe the Proust - but one volum for entire series ? - saving the life of meritous character.

So, absolutely dissaponting.

But, sure , for some details , for expectations, to, it is not a pure waste of time.

Nice movie but something is missing..

[minderamiri · 7/10 · 17 February 2021]

Sometimes it reminds Agatha Christie stories. Overall it's a bit scattered but nice touches.

Agatha Christie meets The Usual Suspects, French style

[meduzahollywood · 9/10 · 21 July 2020]

Terrific contemporary mystery will keep you guessing right up until the very end while entertaining the viewer with great visuals and a superb score. An ensemble cast led by Lambert Wilson gives it their all as the plot twists and turns, mostly set in the underground bunker of a (unseen) Russian billionaire.

As noted in other reviews, if you're a bibliophile then be prepared to add this to your list of favourites.

Interesting movie

[mirkojovanovicc · 6/10 · 23 February 2021]

Even if my standards for this kind of movies are really high I was sastified with this one. Not too impressed because its really easy too guess almost everything here. Story has some holes and it has a lot nonsense moments and parts. But at the end, it was good move for one time watch.

If you have plenty of time

[Pabraxas · 1/10 · 3 June 2020]

When someone tries to copy great ideas and mix them to one cake. The result is predicted: bread. This movie not only waste of time, even more, it gives you nausea attack. Motives not explained, why one was killed, how he knew about killer, why they published 2 books and only on third became a problem? and many many more.

Once long long ago french authors knew to write true interesting stories, it still stay once.

EU / Global state of affairs Allegory

[gogamar · 10/10 · 17 October 2021]

This is what this very entertaining movie was for me: an allegory of the failed European Union. The young British writer and his old French mentor represent the European ideals, the editor represents a bureaucrat from Brussels who has forgotten why he's in the business he's in and is currently only preoccupied by money and control, and the translators represent their countries. It's a very interesting point of view, as it's rare to see this interpretation: two countries who either never were a part of the system or already left (Russia and UK) are the ones who have these values and ideals closest to their hearts. The Italian guy changes sides whenever it suits him, the Greek is old, tired and trying to survive, but not afraid to die, poor Danish woman doesn't feel accomplished and commits a suicide, the German girl is very capable and dedicated to reaching the goal, the Spaniard who at one point seems about to crash finally plots how to win the game by using his language as a tool, the Russian girl translates from Spanish to Mandarin, so that China is informed. They all rebel against the evil editor who has them locked down in a bunker. In a way it's a feel-good, optimistic movie about human nature and how human ideals will always win in the end.

Who wrote that?

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 4 June 2023]

No pun(s) intended of course - as always. The movie tries to be as clever as possible and it sort of succeeds in many ways. But the twists do need some convenient timing - some of them that is. And while we try to figure out who is behind what, there is a blueprint here, that is being used ... from a very famous novel. It is not copied 1 on 1 - there are differences here - thankfully.

The actors chosen help elevate this too - the way it is edited and presented helps with the mystery. Some jumping time-wise that is. The movie is mostly in french, but there are some other languages spoken as well. Which is a nice touch - there could be more of course (having just on Asian language represented may feel a bit odd for example, to name one example) ... but there is only so many characters you can have ... without it losing entirely itself.

If you dig mysteries, there is a lot to discover ... and if you are a fan of Euro movies than you will recognize some of the faces too ...

Intriguing concept, but what a mess

[bulbul_da_great · 4/10 · 3 June 2022]

The tagline in the in-flight entertainment menu that sold the movie to me was intriguing enough on its own, doubly so for a former translator. The cast did a great job (it was particularly wonderful to see Patrick Bauchau speaking French) and the first 40-50 minutes rolled out in a promising way. But once the main plot kicked in, it all went downhill. For one, the main twist could be seen from a mile away. More importantly, however, the whole pseudo-heist thing and the revelations that followed made no sense at all. The critique of capitalism in the literary scene - for which there was a lot of potential, from the slave-like conditions the translators worked in to the fact that their work gets recognition - fell flat, especially against the shallow drama. And ultimately, the movie ended up dealing in tired old tropes. What a waste.

Good story but lack of Excitement

[aykuton · 6/10 · 1 May 2024]

It has a great idea of fiction and a very interesting issue(Literature) but the characters are uninspiring and their stories so fast that we cannot get the thriller inside the bunker and cannot follow their stories.

The desks where they work looks very simple too.

Story could contain more about the book so we can now about Rebecca. The part that i liked it about was when they talked about why she tries to be like Rebecca when she is dieng in book but she says that she dies because she is strong and that actually happens further in the movie and she nearly dies.

I liked the main idea of literature cannot be a part of simple commercial concerns as it is a very important part of culture to give new horizans as mentioned by book seller.