MovieChat Forums > Let Them Eat Cake (1999) Discussion > Why Most Americans won't even get this

Why Most Americans won't even get this


1. You have to know even a little French...and let's face it, while many people in England can at least order un peu de petit dejuner in French, the average American can barely speak English or is too busy butchering the Spanish language in 3rd rate high school classes to even think about French.

2. You have to know a little bit about French history, at the very least. And by this I mean, you have to at least know who Louis XVI was(which I'm afraid most Americans don't). Because you see, this would necessitate some form of reading and most Americans are violently allergic to reading.

3. You have to be entertained by wit and Americans would rather watch a 5 year old 'Who's Line is it anyway' repeat or some reality crap on VH1. ZZZZZZ (Americans in general don't want to think when they are being entertained, that's why they only make movie re-makes and sequels now...ie: King Kong Superman etc...)

So there you have it. Not only why the mayority of Americans wouldn't get it...but also, why American tv will never come up with anything this brilliant: sadly, there just isn't a market :c(

Hence, people like me are forced to look eastward, in hopes that they can salvage something out of the BBC's garbage bin.

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Wow, what an ignorant, presumptuous little piece of work you are.

1.All American schools require students to have taken at least one language before university. Whether or not they retain that language in subjective, of course, but I myself had learned French, German and Spanish by the time I was finished with high school. Of course I was only at the conversational level, but that's more than enough to understand the limited amount of French spoken in "Let Them Eat Cake". And for the record, I was raised in Louisiana, which has one of the WORST educational systems in America.

2.All American schools require students to have taken a class in world history. I couldn't say if the present curriculum puts a heavy focus on French history. But how much do you know about American history, brief though it may be? Could you tell me about the Louisiana purchase, for example? For that matter, tell me about the history of religion in Zimbabwe. Most Americans have a remedial understanding of European history, but naturally only those who decided to study it as a primary subject have an extensive education about French history.

3.Wit is subjective. I love French & Saunders, but I am bored to death by Fawlty Towers. I enjoy Desperate Housewives, but am entirely bored by Everybody Loves Raymond.

You certainally talk a lot of B.S. about something you clearly don't have any firsthand knowledge about. I could trickle out an unending list of tripe that the BBC has put out over the years. And by the way, thank you SO much for such brilliant musical acts as McFly and The Spice Girls.

Yes, clearly the U.K. is filled with nothing but brilliant scholars, where as Americans are all empty-minded idiots.

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I don't think that no american would ever get this. That's unfair. But, you do have to admit that non americans *do* have a much greater influence over them by countries that are not their own. So we've got more chance of 'getting it'.


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Remember Maid Marian and Her Merry Men?

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Yes I think thats a little too harsh, as well. There are loads of US sitcoms that are funnier than some of the UK flops we have to put up with.

Having said that, "Let Them Eat cake" was a flop in the UK, was it not? So maybe we are not such good judges ourselves. I love it, but I rememebr it being heavily criticised when first shown, and I don't remember the BBC repeating it. Thank god for the Aussies releasing it on DVD, I hope they are making good money out of the export sales.

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This is English?

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i think the poster is american as they say they have to look to the east etc.

but yeh i agree with what you say- its a bit harsh. its all a matter of opinion and with what geography i have, i believe America to be a fairly large place! and so i suppose opinions on education must differ greatly.

oh and im from the UK and i really really do apologise for McFly!! how they have survived so long remains a mystery to me :)

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I had to laugh when you mentioned how Americans "butcher" Spanish, kind of true, but it also made me think of the how the French describe the English and their "ability" to speak French. Let's say it's not the kindest description in the world (I worked for a company in France for 5 years... the English tourist was an object of amusement to say the least). Anyhow, cultural elements do come into play...but I don't think you can rule out the Americans so easily (especially since I now live in the United States!)

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[deleted]

Well, I am an American and I think the slur is well deserved. I took Latin and French in high school and it was a total joke. Hell, none of us could speak either when we graduated as it did not properly prepare us for college level language classes. The American educational system has lowered it standards to allow even people with the IQ of a turnip to graduate. It is nothing short of pathetic. Having travelled through many countries in Europe, I found that when treated with respect, the people were helpful and kind, generally.

Also, IMO, we should start language classes in America in elementary school or even before. A child has more real estate in their brains at a young age and it is easier to learn as opposed to middle and high years when most are focused on the opposite sex. I find that Europeans are more sophisticated than most Americans, and if I had the money to move the the English countryside, I would.

Cheers!

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[deleted]

was a fairytale character. Britain is worse off than America. Don't let anyone tell you any different. It's an inferiority complex.

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