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[HanCinema's News] "Escape From Mogadishu" Offers Korean Subtitles for Korean Speakers

From the project's inception everyone was expecting "Escape from Mogadishu" to have at least some subtitles. The movie, after all, takes place in Somalia, even if the principle characters are all Koreans. But some were surprised to find that the film is also quite generous with subtitles for its North Korean characters. Despite these characters speaking the same language as South Koreans, they use a different dialect that can sometimes be difficult for South Korean speakers to parse.

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The decision from director Ryoo Seung-wan to include such subtitles dates back to "The Berlin File" from 2013. That inter-Korean diplomatic thriller also featured much use of North Korean dialect. But the authenticity of the speech created some annoyance for viewers who couldn't quite tell what the North Korean characters were saying. Recognizing these complaints, Ryoo Seung-wan made a point of providing subtitles to assist such viewers.

This decision did not take place in a vacuum. Over recent years many projects featuring many different dialects, be it television or film, will often feature Korean subtitles for Korean dialog. Part of this is out of consideration to younger viewers who have more difficulty with the dialect of old people. The considerations of the deaf are also taken into account, as it is often not feasible to have sign language translation for every possible program.

Exactitude is also important. Documentarians recognize that many viewers would prefer to have an exact dictation for whatever is spoken just to make sure they don't mishear. And the spy game plot of "Escape from Mogadishu" gains a similar benefit, as viewers naturally don't want to be accidentally left out of the loop for important plot developments. "Escape from Mogadishu" premiered in South Korean theaters on July 28th and has amassed over a million admissions so far.

Written by William Schwartz

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"Escape from Mogadishu" is directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, and features Kim Yun-seok, Zo In-sung, Huh Joon-ho, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim So-jin, Jung Man-sik. Release date in Korea: 2021/07/28.

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