The Interpreter

In her article on this website Danielle Gree has pointed to the film’s slight inconsistencies that strike a professional interpreter. The simultaneous interpreting scenes ring reasonably true: there is a booth for each language, a technician is present, there are two interpreters per language and Nicole Kidman’s delivery and demeanour when interpreting are believable .

The director chose not to glamorise interpreting, but show it as a job done by qualified and committed people; Nicole Kidman is dressed in smart but not spectacular clothes, she lives in a pleasant but not luxurious flat. This understated depiction of the interpreter and her job give a far more realistic picture of interpreters than the dashing jet-setters featured in glossy articles.

I particularly liked an early scene between the policeman (Sean Penn) and the interpreter (Nicole Kidman) when he is trying to find out about her past political affiliations. I’m working from memory, but I think it goes something like this. He asks if she likes the current president of Matobo and she responds that she’d like him “gone”. Penn accuses Kidman of wanting the president dead – but she makes it clear that “dead” and “gone” are not the same thing and that sloppy use of language would not get you a job as a UN interpreter.

The UN building is used to good effect with the bustle and liveliness of the days giving way to the rather eerie nights – buildings designed to accommodate crowds are slightly scary when empty.

So, go see .


Phil SMITH
Calliope member in the United Kingdom



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