MovieChat Forums > Spalovach mrtvol (1969) Discussion > Correct Subtitle Translation question

Correct Subtitle Translation question

posted 13 years ago by ObiHobbes
2 replies | jump to latest

I had watched an AVI version of this with hardcoded subtitles before buying the dvd. The scene immediately following the opening credits there's an old woman that states she had yet to recieve her 'Cream Coffin' on the dvd version, but says she still hadn't recieved her 'Cake' on the AVI file. Seeing as the scene shows people being seated and being served drinks, the latter seems to make more sense, but the DVD i assume would have the correct translation. Anyone speak the language & wanna shed some light on this for me?

[–] ExaltedOne 13 years ago

A "cream coffin" would indeed be the correct translation here. It's a particular Czech pastry, brittle and hollow, made of sweet unleavened egg-yolk batter, baked in a little coffin-shaped mould, usually garnished with a serving of whipped cream. This is how they look like:

http://ekucharka.net/obrazky/rakvicky.jpg
http://www.toprecepty.cz/fotky_nahled/0006/n_r.jpg

It's a running joke among Czech funeral workers to eat "a coffin and a wreath" with their coffee ("a wreath" being a puffy, cream-filled pastry somewhat akin to American donuts). Kopfrkingl is offering it to his son as they are walking to the crematory: "So, will you have a wreath or a coffin?"

A typical wreath: http://www.cukrarna-cherry.cz/img/cookies/full/venecek-se-slehackou.jpg

[–] kosmikino 12 years ago

Exactly the same thing bugged me! I wrongly thought the same, that "cream coffin" was some translation screw-up so many thanks for putting us English speakers right!

As someone who regularly uses Google translate to translate the native subtitles of "communist" era Eastern European and Russian sci-fi, horror and fantasy films into English, I can attest to just how wrong you can go with translation (much to the amusement of native speakers when they are checking the accuracy of the translation). As soon as you get into word-play, metaphor and domestic humour, you are on rocky ground!

Juraj Herz is a total genius and like many Czech directors, criminally under-rated in English speaking cinema discourse (as are most Eastern European and Russian directors with the obvious exceptions).