This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
cinema a soggetto
Commissione giustizia della Camera

Glossary entry

Italian term or phrase:

film di genere

English translation:

genre films

Added to glossary by Umberto Cassano
Dec 16, 2011 09:50
12 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Italian term

film di genere

Italian to English Other Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
...un archivio che spazia dal muto al sonoro, dal cinema a soggetto al documentario, comprendendo classici della produzione internazionale e FILM DI GENERE, capolavori dei Maestri del nostro cinema e prodotti di quell’artigianato di altissimo livello che ha costituito la struttura portante del cinema italiano
Proposed translations (English)
4 +7 genre films
3 +1 B movie
4 genre films or 'B-movies'
Change log

Dec 30, 2011 11:27: Umberto Cassano Created KOG entry

Discussion

jasonwkingsley Dec 19, 2011:
This article might clear things up http://www.awardsdaily.com/2011/09/oscarwatch-on-genre-movie...

Even 'Star Wars' can be considered a Genre movie. Now is that what the article is talking about ? Cinema di Genere = films like Star Wars or Jaws. I don't think so.

You could even be misleading the reader by saying Genre films, as the reader might think that Italy has made blockbuster genre movies like Star Wars or even Super 8.

Once again, the article refers to those low budget B-movies (which were also genre films)..spaghetti westerns, erotic, pepla, etc.,

Another thought on B-movies. Unfortunately they have a negative connotation when in fact the definition is really referring to the alternate B side of cinema as opposed to the A side (great, classic, big production cinema)
jasonwkingsley Dec 18, 2011:
I'm not, and I'm the the first to admit it :) I'm just egging you on. Non ti preoccupare.

I did have have a chat with my companion tonight and she had already told me that she knew quite a bit what I was talking about, but I didn't realize to what extent. She is Italian, by the way. She told me she wrote a 300 page thesis on Cinema di Genere with a specification on Mondo Movies. She said that she often referred to Cinema di Genere as B-Movies in the thesis.
Because of this, I get to know another side of my girlfriend :)
SJLD Dec 17, 2011:
I'm ordinary and I'm the first to admit it.
Although some people are more ordinary than others LOL.
C'est la vie. Ciao. Over and out.
jasonwkingsley Dec 17, 2011:
@ SJLD Ordinary people ? This in itself is arrogant and elitist. I think we have hit the root of the problem in this translation (as I have already stated many times). And it comes down to what Laura said

'Genre film is used in English but B movie is more common.'

And I agreed with her from the start because this is the first thing that comes to mind.
(In fact, I should agree with Genre films too, but I can't because of the links involved)

Bottom line :

The common phrase : B-movie
The elitist phrase : Genre films (once again not really the same thing because genre films nowadays can be big budget, what the article is not referring to)

I think that we should leave it up to the asker. I have definitely discovered a lot here though.
jasonwkingsley Dec 17, 2011:
@ SJLD (in your own words) Translation is not an exact science, and no one has the monopoly on the right answer.

So, I suggest both and leave it up to the asker.
SJLD Dec 17, 2011:
Men in the street are also people who have studied things at school. It's not pejorative. Just means ordinary people.
jasonwkingsley Dec 17, 2011:
No they are not. And I posted that link... ...to demonstrate that these 'film di genere' are NOT AT ALL the same 'film di genere' that the article seems to be referring to from a certain time period.

Often people involved in the arts are elitist so if you do say B-movie, they see it is derogatory and less important. In France much more so as they have invented film and the French entertain the idea of 'high art', so you can't label something B-movie which is perhaps 'low art' or moyen, the will prefer films de genre when in fact we're just talking about B-movies. The Italians, although they have the same arrogance when it comes to cinema, are perhaps a bit more cool with terminology.

But this is for an English speaking public. And I would say that most people understand B-movies and others who will know 'genre films' as well. Once again, though, genre films can be big budget films (as the link that you and I both posted confirms) and the films in this article is not necessarily referring to that. So for the sake of clarity, I say both and leave it up to the asker.

And I didn't ask a 'uomo della strada' (what an arrogant thing to say). Actually a few of the people I spoke with had studied film in school.
SJLD Dec 17, 2011:
Are these B movies? http://www.cineforumimperia.it/file/cine_RUBRICHE/rub_classi...
SJLD Dec 17, 2011:
either they will think B-movie or nothing at all because they are not familiar with it
Exactly, because the uomo della strada does not know what "genre film" is. Anywhere.

If you read and understand the Wikipedia document correctly, you will see that there are "genres cinématographique" and "films de genre". Not quite the same thing.

Funny how we discredit wikipedia to justify ourselves. Not always a valid argument. And funny how Laura Bennett's wikipedia link is not commented on but mine is. Oh well.
jasonwkingsley Dec 17, 2011:
This has become far too complex, unfortunately. Indeed 'genre films' is a correct answer and I do not refute that. However, presently I am living in Italy and if I present the question with Italians, which I have done, either they will think B-movie or nothing at all because they are not familiar with it. Indeed, there is the pejorative connotation and perhaps that does not correspond to the article. But for the sake of clarity, as many people might not know what 'genre films' are, but rather B-movies, it might be prudent to include both.

In Italy, the 'cinema di genere' of the 60's, 70's and 80's (pepla, spaghetti westerns, erotic, etc.) were all low-budget film (B-movies).


http://bmoviezone.wordpress.com/generi/sociopolitical/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Italian-B-Movie-70/1528852280...

Here is another link :

http://www.cineforumimperia.it/file/cine_RUBRICHE/rub_classi...

This refers to 'film di genere' , but these are obviously not low-budget films.

The translation here is dealing with a historical overview of Italian cinema. And those films from 'cinema di genere' refer to low-budget films from the 60's, 70's, and 80's in Italy..B-movies.
SJLD Dec 17, 2011:
@Jason http://ingoruptibles.over-blog.com/pages/Lexique-5223570.htm...

Genre (cinéma de) :
Le cinéma de genre (ou cinéma bis) recouvre les films répondant à certains codes (visuels, narratifs, techniques), non-conventionnels et indépendants. Défenseur et porte-drapeau d’une certaine philosophie, le cinéma de genre inclut comme son nom l’indique différents genres atypiques : westerns, films de kung-fu, films d’horreur, etc.

Série B :
Une Série B est un film à petit budget. L’appellation "B", souvent péjorative, sous-entend que la qualité du film est médiocre...même si ce n’est pas toujours le cas. Attention, le terme de série B ne désigne pas un genre cinématographique à proprement parler : il peut tout autant s’agir d’un film d’horreur, d’une comédie, d’un film d’action…
SJLD Dec 16, 2011:
So you would call Spartacus (Kubrick) a B-movie because it's a "peplum"?
jasonwkingsley Dec 16, 2011:
This might be useful too. http://www.bmoviecentral.com/bmc/bmc-articles/145-what-exact...

from the article :


The Italians made their share of b-style films as well. In fact, they were responsible for an entire genre know as peplum, or sword and sandal films. These films usually centered around Hercules or one of the other Greek or Roman heroes, so as the name implies, there were lots of swords and sandals. Two of the greatest films of this genre are Hercules and Hercules Unchained, both starring legendary bodybuilder Steve Reeves. For many, Steve Reeves will always be the quintissential Hercules, even though the character was protrayed by many different actors over the years including Reg Park, Sergio Ciani (credited as Alan Steel), Kirk Morris, Mark Forest, Peter Lupus (credited as Mark Stevens) and Lou Ferrigno.

Proposed translations

+7
20 mins
Selected

genre films

B movie ? Certainly not !

http://www.imdb.com/list/Yn-_mFvzoV4/

HTH
Peer comment(s):
agree SJLD : absolutely - definitely not B movies (well, not all ;-) - http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/onlinessays/JC01folder/Genre...
46 mins
agree jane mg
1 hr
agree Carmela Oione
3 hrs
agree Theodora OB : agree with SJLD
6 hrs
agree 3ADE shadab
18 hrs
agree tradu-grace
21 hrs
neutral jasonwkingsley : The links that are used in this answer refer to American 'genre films' (not Italian 'genre films' )...sometimes even big budget productions, gangster films i.e. 'The Godfather' - these are 'genre films'.
1 day 3 hrs
agree Susy Sinigag (X)
3 days 6 hrs
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "la scelta è stata molto difficile, grazie anche a jason"
+1
3 mins

B movie

Genre film is used in English but B movie is more common.
Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B_movie

Peer comment(s):
agree jasonwkingsley : Upon more research, I have come to the conclusion that the 'film di genere' in this context is really referring to low budget genre films a.k.a. B-movies. They are also considered 'genre films'.
52 mins
Thanks Jason - that's a helpful reference.
Something went wrong...
7 hrs

genre films or 'B-movies'

@ SJLD - First of all, Kubrick only directed that film. He didn't write it. Just a side note. And it might be confused with being a peplum though technically it is considered a big budget film. Pepla are low budget films with often similar 'sword and sandal' themes..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sword-and-sandal

The usual expression in Italian is 'cinema di genere'.

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_di_genere

I would say both ...genre films or 'B-movies' (with the half-quotes and the hypen)

'Film di serie B' is an integral part of Italian film and this text seems to be about praising Italian cinema so I would definitely put it in there.

I don't think it is wrong to add words to clear things. I do this all the time. Most people will know what a B-movie is (low budget films with sub categories...in Italy - lots spaghetti westerns and pepla)

Another interesting link

http://www.filmreference.com/encyclopedia/Independent-Film-R...

This article does use the term genre films. And I do agree. However, if you say this term to Italians, most will think B-movie. On a side note, I haven't heard many French say 'genre films' they say 'films de serie B'.

I think what we're dealing with here is that as B-movies have gained more status in the film world, they have become known as 'genre films', but maybe a decade ago, this term maybe wasn't used and they were still known as B-movies. (Don't quote me on this though)

....I do love B-movies :)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day3 hrs (2011-12-17 13:47:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The phrase here is definitely referring to B-movies (low budget genre films) from Italy. There was a huge production of these 'genre films' and all being low budget. 'Genre films' as I have stated elsewhere refer to 'genres' - a specific theme -erotic, western, sword and sandal, etc (SJLD posted a french link for this)

You might want to say ... low budget genre films ... although this might be too wordy, but it is the sense.

Just to clarify : 'Genre films' are still made today and THEY CAN BE BIG BUDGET FILMS with many different sub-categories. For example 'The Godfather' is a 'genre film'. I don't think that Italians even make many 'Genre films' any longer. It is really referring to those famous spaghetti westerns, erotic, ..all of those low budget Italian films or B-movies from the 60's, 70's , and early 80's.

In any case, it might be a good idea to give your employer the option. If you just say 'Genre films', it might even seem like you didn't research the topic and look for an just translation.
Peer comment(s):
neutral SJLD : the French say "films de genre" - they are not necessarily "séries B" - have been translating in the audiovisual sector for 20+ years http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genre_cinématographique#Films_d...
16 hrs
That's a lot of genres !
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search