MovieChat Forums > Revanche (2008) Discussion > Title

Title

posted 14 years ago by Msubills
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What does the title translate to in English?

SLIGHT SPOILER

Revenge. And one of the things I liked most about the movie was the subtlety of the revenge...not by the obvious shoot-out or fight but by the knowledge that the cop was suffering she same as Alex was.

I took the road less traveled by.

[–] black_dodo_b 13 years ago

Not quite sure if revenge is the correct translation.

In French you have the word "la vengeance" that comes actually closer to the english word revenge.

The word "la revanche" can be used as a translation of revenge in certain cases, but in general it has not so much implication of violence than "la vengeance" and revenge. It has a more playfull aspect to it.

For example "la revanche" is often used as a translation of rematch or for the term payback. Or "en revanche" can be translated into "in return".

Just thought that might give you some additional insight. It didn't give me any :)

Then again, it is an Austrian movie, not sure how much thought went in to the precise French meaning of the word :)

[–] booger-28 13 years ago

And one of the things I liked most about the movie was the subtlety of the revenge...not by the obvious shoot-out or fight but by the knowledge that the cop was suffering she same as Alex was.

MAJOR MAJOR SPOILERS! AND SHAMELESS ENDING INTERPRETATION

But did you notice how the cop unknowingly fought back by throwing the guilt back on Alex by asking why the girl had to come along on the robbery. Thus in the end, he fails in getting his revenge because he winds up feeling ultimately responsible for Tamara's death and so he throws his (now) loaded gun into the lake. I took the final shot as him resigning himself. I also saw the whole thing as the process of the nature of the forest extinguishing man's own petty nature.

[–] fabrik1980 12 years ago

I'm Austrian and over here the word "Revanche" is mostly used in competitive games (cards, darts, whatever). If you lose a game and want a rematch, because you believe you could do better or because you feel you deserve a second chance, then you're asking for a "Revanche". I wouldn't translate it as "revenge". I'm sure the two words are related somehow (via Latin perhaps?), but in Austria we certainly don't mean "revenge" when we say "Revanche".

And then there's "revanchieren". If somebody does you a favor or helps you out, you want to "revanchieren" - make it up so you're even. The word "revanchieren" is pretty much exclusively used in a friendly (non-hostile) manner. You just want to demonstrate that you're grateful for another person's help.

[–] AtomicReturns (1252) 7 years ago

Right - the trivia says there's kind of two meanings. One is vengeance, but the other is related to competitive games, where you are asking for a second chance after an initial loss.

What kind of makes the title rather brilliant is that it makes you expect the first (revenge) but you get the other. Alex doesn't get the blood-soaked revenge that we're thinking of. He actually gets to a place of forgiveness and redemption. The last long shot of the farm probably means he has settled into this life and is satisfied with it. He throws the gun in the lake and never intends to use it or harm anyone again.

And as for the cop, who felt so cursed and tortured lately, he gets his own second chance by learning about his wife's pregnancy. Both Alex and the cop find something more to live for, and settle into a new groove. Both souls end up at peace.