SHARE
COPY LINK

FILM

The voices who bring English movies to German ears

It's a regular complaint among expats in Germany: just how hard can cinemas make it to find a showing of a Hollywood movie that isn't dubbed by German voice actors?

The voices who bring English movies to German ears
Voice actor Gerrit Schmidt-Foß is better known as Leonardo diCaprio to most Germans. Photos: Marco Justus Scholer/DPA

Butt for Germans, these artists are the people who make it possible to enjoy watching global films in their native language.

While they're not resented, though, almost no-one has much of an idea who provides the voices of English-speaking megastars like Leonardo DiCaprio or Daniel Craig.

Now Berlin-based photographer Marco Justus Schöler is trying to bring the unsung heroes of German movie-going to the fore with a portrait exhibition called Faces Behind the Voices, touring rail stations around the country.

“It was very, very difficult to find them, most of them don't even have an internet or Facebook page,” Schöler told The Local.

But once he had tracked down a few of the actors who did have online presences, their connections in the small world of voice acting quickly helped him to reach others to reach the full complement of 30 portraits.

“Eighty percent of the people I photographed were happy about it and wanted to be in front of the camera – but some were reluctant to destroy the illusion,” the 26-year-old photographer said.

Voice actor Sandra Schwittau is the talent behind Bart Simpson, Hilary Swank, and many others on German screens. Photos: Marco Justus Schöler/20th Century Fox

In fact, many voice actors were already film, theatre or TV veterans themselves before finding work in the world of dubbing foreign movies.

Below each portrait of the 30 actors Schöler photographed will be a tablet with headphones, ready-loaded with extracts from the films they've worked on, German versions of famous film quotes and anecdotes from their experience as dubbing actors.

“What I was really positively surprised about was how they were able to play with their voices, moving high or low or using accents,” the photographer said.

“You don't realize as a film viewer how much they synchronize themselves to the Hollywood actors.”

That can even occasionally bleed over into personal styles and mannerisms copied from the A-listers on the big screen – although it's not as common as you might think.

“If you've been dubbing the same actor for 20 years, then you take on some of their theatrical qualities, but that's only the case when the microphone is on,” Schöler said.

Voice actor Dietmar Wunder describes his work as Daniel Craig/James Bond and others (in German).

“I think they're good at separating their private and their work lives. But the guy who does Robert Downey Jr. does have a very nice pair of blue glasses just like him.”

What Schöler hopes to achieve is increased visibility for the hard work that goes into making foreign films accessible for German audiences.

It was only in 2014 that a Berlin court ruled that voice actors had the right to be named in movie credits.

“As Germans, we take dubbing for granted and don't realize how much work and art is behind dubbing,” Schöler said. “That's how we can experience the message of acting from America.”

As a voice actor, “you have to be a really good actor, a real theatrical talent,” he went on.

“I want people to recognize and respect that, to value the art of acting.”

If you're interested in seeing the “Faces Behind the Voices” exhibition, you can catch it at:

Munich Hauptbahnhof, May 4th-12th

Berlin Ostbahnhof, May 14th-23rd

Lübeck Hauptbahnhof, June 1st-13th

Mannheim Hauptbahnhof, June 20th-30th

Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof, July 5th-13th

Kiel Hauptbahnhof July, 18th-28th

Bremen Hauptbahnhof, July 30th-8th

Braunschweig Hauptbahnhof, August 11th-21st

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

FILM

French films with English subtitles to watch in November

As days get shorter and temperatures drop, November is a great month to enjoy a warm and comforting moment at the cinema. Here’s a round up of the French movies with English subtitles to see in Paris this month.

Cinema in France
Photo: Loic Venance/AFP

The cinema group Lost in Frenchlation runs regular screenings of French films in the capital, with English subtitles to help non-native speakers follow the action. The club kicks off every screening with drinks at the cinema’s bar one hour before the movie, so it’s also a fun way to meet people if you’re new to Paris.

These are the events they have coming up in November.

Friday, November 5th

Boîte Noire – What happened on board the Dubai-Paris flight before it crashed in the Alps? In this thriller Matthieu, a young and talented black box analyst played by Pierre Niney (star of Yves Saint-Laurent among other movies) is determined to solve the reason behind this deadly crash, no matter the costs. 

The screening will take place at the Club de l’étoile cinema at 8pm. But you can arrive early for drinks at the bar from 7pm. 

Tickets are €10 full price, €8 for students and all other concessions, and can be reserved here.

Sunday, November 14th

Tralala – In the mood for music? This new delightful French musical brings you into the life of Tralala (played by Mathieu Amalric), a 48 years old, homeless and worn-out street singer, who one day gets mistaken for someone else. Tralala sees an opportunity to get a better life by taking on a new personality. He now has a brother, nephews, ex-girlfriends, and maybe even a daughter. But where is the lie? Where is the truth? And who is he, deep down?

The night will start with drinks from 6pm followed by the screening at 7pm at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema. There is also a two-hour cinema-themed walk where you’ll be taken on a “musicals movie tour” in the heart of Paris, which begins at 4pm.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here. Tickets for the walking tour cost €20 and must be reserved online here.

Thursday, November 18th

Illusions Perdues – Based on the great novel series by Honoré de Balzac between 1837 and 1843, this historical drama captures the writer Lucien’s life and dilemmas who dreams about a great career of writing and moves to the city to get a job at a newspaper. As a young poet entering the field of journalism, he is constantly challenged by his desire to write dramatic and eye-catching stories for the press. But are they all true?

The evening will kick off with drinks at L’Entrepôt cinema bar at 7pm, followed by the movie screening at 8pm. Tickets are available online here, and cost €8.50 full price; €7 for students and all other concessions.

Sunday, November 21st

Eiffel – Having just finished working on the Statue of Liberty, Gustave Eiffel (played by Romain Duris) is tasked with creating a spectacular monument for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. It’s ultimately his love story with Adrienne Bourgès (Emma Mackey) that will inspire him to come up with the idea for the Eiffel Tower.

After a first screening last month, Lost in Frenchlation is organising a new one at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema, with pre-screening drinks at the cinema bar. 

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here

Thursday, November 25th

Les Héroïques – Michel is a former junkie and overgrown child who only dreams of motorbikes and of hanging out with his 17-year-old son Léo and his friends. But at 50 years old, he now has to handle the baby he just had with his ex, and try not to make the same mistakes he has done in the past. 

The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director Maxime Roy who will discuss his very first feature. 

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Full details of Lost in Frenchlation’s events can be found on their website or Facebook page. In France, a health pass is required in order to go to the cinema.

SHOW COMMENTS