This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
cité pour mémoire prévu
Éditeur intellectuel

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

le film débute par une filature

English translation:

the film opens with a tailing scene

Added to glossary by Carla Buchman
Sep 9, 2012 20:16
11 yrs ago
French term

le film débute par une filature

French to English Art/Literary Cinema, Film, TV, Drama style: film noir
I thought of the term "shadowing", but "the film begins with a shadowing" sounds terrible.
Target language: American
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 the film opens with a tailing scene
4 +1 The film opens to/with XXX being stalked
3 stalking; tailing;
3 the movie opens with someone being tailed
3 (the film begins with an) undercover pursuit

Discussion

Emma Paulay Sep 10, 2012:
Yes to undercover pursuit. "The opening scene is an undercover pursuit" would be my choice.
freekfluweel Sep 10, 2012:
undercover pursuit as example:

http://www.vodkaster.com/Films/Drive/26415
Pascale van Kempen-Herlant Sep 10, 2012:
imo... ... filature doesn't mean stalking.
It is tailing or following or shadowing.
Filature : filer, suivre (quelqu’un) en surveillant ses faits et gestes.
Stalking would be more like harceler, traquer.
Let's see how the native speakers can phrase it nicely.
philgoddard Sep 9, 2012:
Context What is the film? What does it say before and after this?

Proposed translations

+1
2 hrs
Selected

the film opens with a tailing scene

Another suggestion. Not enough context to give a more precise answer.

Another more precise option could be "the film opens with a scene picturing XXX tailing YYY" with possibly more details about the tailing, depending on what is at hand.
Peer comment(s):
agree Kevin B. Shelton
14 hrs
Thank you.
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks for your help, I will use your suggestion."
42 mins

stalking; tailing;

While these verbs are probably better than shadowing - unless we know the context of the movie it would be difficult to be more specific.
Example sentence:

The movie begins with the stalking of (character name).

The movie begins with (character name) being tailed by ....

Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

The film opens to/with XXX being stalked

English seems to use verb forms more often than the Latin languages at times. Maybe :

"[X] being stalked by [Y]"

"Opens to" / "opens with" = two ideas.
Example sentence:

"The film OPENS TO a young George (Johnny Depp) and his parents Fred (Ray Liotta) and Ermine (Rachel Griffiths) of Weymouth, Massachusetts. "

"The movie OPENS WITH a drunk Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) behind the stage of a traveling Winchester rifle sale/show in the spring of 1876."

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blow_(film)

http://www.themoviespoiler.com/Spoilers/lastsamurai.html

Peer comment(s):
agree Kevin B. Shelton : I really like the "opens" idea...
14 hrs
Thank you. I like opens too.
Something went wrong...
16 hrs

the movie opens with someone being tailed

My suggestion.
Something went wrong...
1 day 22 hrs

(the film begins with an) undercover pursuit

see discussion
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search