Dien bien Phu subtitles ?
Can you find this movie with english subtitles ?
shareHow about....can you find this movie period. The One Sheet is fantastic and I've wanted to see this ever since I saw the poster for the film. Can't find it on Amazon - France even.
shareThe good news is that Diên Biên Phu on DVD is currently available at amazon.fr @ 21.81€ which is about US$28 (I'm assuming you're in US). The bad news is that sadly there are no English subtitles and before that I could only find it on VHS in German!
shareAny further word on this becoming available in a US format, with English?
shareSadly not at the moment and as a niche film with little publicity on release, I am not sure we'll ever see one in Region 1 US format although I am always an optimist by nature! A version with English subtitles may emerge in one of the other Regions (i.e. 4-6). Frustratingly there are now 3 DVD versions available, respectively:
1) a German version, 2) a French version (which I have) and, 3) appropriately, a Vietnamese DVD. But strangely still none with English subtitles which is odd. I shall keep looking and if I find anything, I'll post on this thread.
I hold out hope for a version with English subtitles becoming available one day. I had heard about this movie a few years ago and have scoured the internet for any scraps of information. I haven't been able to find a trailer but I'm sure there has to be one out there somewhere.
It's hard to believe that a movie made about one of the most important battles of the 20th century, isn't available in the US.
If you can ever find one with English subtitles, I'd REALLY like to be notified.
It doesn't worry me if it is not region 1 encoding.
Please let us all know if you find it.
Jim
Hi Jim & all other Dien Bien Phu fans, I certainly will do so. I spent a long time trying to source another French film called 'Belphégor - Le fantôme du Louvre' (2001, with the delightful Sophie Marceau; much of the attraction of the title for me!) with English subtitles (I hate dubbing). Finally tracked it down on the net from Brazil (Region 4) so it's worth some persistence ;-) ! In any case, it's worth having a multi-region DVD player for these occasions.
shareSo frustrating that this is difficult to find with English subs as don`t think my basic French would be able to cope with a full length feature.Staying on the same subject, has anyone seen 317 Section E?Another highly regarded film which is also ridiculously hard to obtain.
shareYes indeed! Still no luck with 'Dien Bien Phu' so far. I also have '317ième Section' which as you rightly say is highly regarded but again no subtitles; the same with 'Kolwezi' & 'Le Crab Tambour'. I live in France but my French like yours in not yet good enough to fully enjoy feature films. My local French DVD rental shop has DVDs with English soundtrack/subtitle options EXCEPT for French films which hardly ever have English subtitles. So frustrating as they make super films! In my experience the only hope* is that they are released in USA region 1 by someone like Criterion where they will have subtitles (like the superb 'Battle of Algiers').
* A forlorn hope, I fear, with the 4 films mentioned above!
Merde if you`ll pardon my French!I`ll keep searching as well and post again if I find anything.I don`t suppose there would be a Vietnamese release?
I totally agree about "Battle Of Algiers" which is easily one of the best war films(more of a docu-drama really)ever made.Superbly balanced appraisal of a difficult subject to approach.Have you seen "The Lost Command"(1965)with Anthony Quinn?Pretty straightforward actioner to be honest, but the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu is briefly featured at the start of the film-the next 3 quarters features the Algerian fight for independance.
Salut to The Khazi! There IS a Vietnamese release (appropriately enough!) but only French & Vietnamese subtitles...(merde again!).
I see that like me, you are a keen student of films depicting the French military experience, esp. post WW2. Talking of WW2, have you seen 'Indigènes' (aka 'Days of Glory' in USA etc. about the experience of North African soldiers in French army during WW2)? I have it on DVD w/English subtitles but haven't got around to viewing it yet. I'd be very interested in your opinion of it.
Yes I have 'Lost Command' on Region 2 DVD which I like very much and it is certainly an underrated actioner and deals with Dien Bien Phu briefly but well. I can't help thinking that the Anthony Quinn part must be based on the legendary 'Bruno' Bigeard.
PS Have a look at www.amazon.fr and put in 'Vietnam' & 'Indochine' in search box. There are some fascinating DVD's about Dien Bien Phu (I'm especially fascinated by French wars in Indochina & Algeria) as now recently there have been a big output of documentary DVD material as painful political & military memories fade. As there may well be in the future in UK (my country of origin) re Northern Ireland.
Once again, like yourself, I only hesitate because of lack of 'les soutitres en anglais'!
I think for France, Algeria and Vietnam, at last 'La page est tournée' allowing more objective judgement on all sides. I totally agree with you that 'Battle of Algiers' was the most balanced film I think I've ever seen. Remarkable as made only 4 years after the end of the war! A veteran French Para officer of the battle once told me 'we won the battle but but at the cost of our souls'. If you haven't, read Horne's "A Savage War of Peace'.
I enjoy and appreciate war films from most periods although my main interest is in WW2.Over the last couple of years I`ve developed an interest in foreign,obscure offerings and excitement is mixed with frustration when these films seem to have slipped into relative obscurity(even in their country of origin) and prove elusive to track down.Still satisfying though when you finally manage to hunt one down.
"Indigenes" is becoming more well-known each day and it`s a quality film about injustices suffered by Africans serving with the French forces-a subject that I admit I was totally ignorant about.An important film which also made the French government sit up and re-instate equal pension rights` which were spitefully abolished after many of these countries claimed their independance from France.Before anyone starts abusing the French we,in Britain,should take a look at how we treat groups such as the Gurkhas.I think the uk dvd has a featurette on this, with the Director of Indigenes, campaigning for better rights for them to then PM Tony Blair.Perhaps the uk film industry could make a film about the Gurkhas to highlight THEIR injustice(don`t hold your breath!)Overall a good film,good acting-action scenes,inspired in places by Private Ryan,very worthwhile.Let me know what you think.Incidentally have a look at the "Indigenes" message board ,after you`ve seen the film, as someone has had a bit of a rant in French.I think he or she is critical of the focus on the Africans rather than the "white French"-maybe you can decipher what they`re saying.All the best!
Sounds like we're very similar! I too love the thrill of the chase and the joy in tracking a title down. Thanks for the spec on 'Indigenes'. I shall view it ASAP. Interesting that it made the French Govt. review the pension rights. I know that Harkis, Spahis, Goums and Tirailleurs Algeriennes fought loyally for France in both World Wars and Indochina. But I especially agree with you re The Gurkhas. I was enraged when a Gurkha Falklands veteran was denied permission by the Home Office to drive a lorry in UK and signed a petition. We treat all our servicemen/women dreadfully and the Gurkhas worst of all. A film about these marvellous soldiers would indeed be great idea but as you so say, sadly no holding of breath.
Do check out a marvellous Finnish war film 'Talvisota' (1988 aka 'The Winter War') about the Finns war against Soviet Union in WW2. Tremendous realism (even has Polikarpov I-16 'Rata' fighters and correct Soviet armour from that period!). A true 'David & Goliath' tale which is relatively unknown. As you may know, Stalin & his generals got a very nasty shock indeed when the tiny Finnish forces destroyed entire Soviet armies and though eventually overwhelmed, the Finns were subsequently left alone by a wary USSR! I like the fact that the film shows compassion for the Soviet conscripts/soldiers forced into suicidal frontal attacks that were part of Soviet military doctrine for far too long. The message board for the film has details of how to get it.
I will check out the Gallic rant in 'Indigenes' message board & try to decipher it.
All the best!
I saw "Talvisota" just before Christmas after finally picking up the Finnish dvd.It runs at just over 3 hours which is considerably longet than the us r1 effort although I`ve just found it that there`s a special extended tv version with another hour!(see the recent posts on there)More isn`t necessarily better of course, but from what I`ve seen so far this film impresses.Most reviews use Private Ryan as a benchmark as veterans` have commented that the action sequences are probably as close as a film can get to actual combat-well "Talivisota" precedes Ryan by almost 10 years and it`s just as graphic.I must admit it took me a while to adjust to the film as some of the English subtitling left a lot to be desired-needs one or two watches to understand the characters.The Finns` were certainly in an unusual position during WW2 and Britain initially sent aid to them to fight the Soviets although it was far too little too late.I`ve seen a curious picture of British aircraft waiting to be sent to Finland decked out in SWASTIKAS which the Finns also used on their aircraft(different colour to the German version).Of course we later declared war on them ( December 41` I think) after they sided with the Germans during Barbarossa.
shareSpeaking of French Indochina films, don't forget 'Charlie Bravo'.
I showed that movie to two Vietnam war veterans (Americans) and they both loved it.
I have uploaded my version of the English subs for the PAL DVD to MySubtitles.com. They are 25fps SubRip format.
sharehi
I made a search on mysubtitles.com, but could not find. can you please send through e-mail? if so, [email protected]
ps: a french sub will also do.
thanks in advance.
I have found subtitles. They were posted on Demonoid
shareWell done!
shareOnce again, deeply grateful for a great & successful bit of detective work, brewbarb! They seem to work well; am so grateful for this as I love this film but my French (although OK) is not up to fully appreciating the film without English subtitles and these just make the difference!
BTW Do get hold of the film's superb soundtrack by Georges Delerue, if possible.