Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
gueule
English translation:
larger-than-life characters
Added to glossary by
SafeTex
Jul 14, 2014 18:50
9 yrs ago
2 viewers *
French term
gueule
French to English
Art/Literary
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Semantics/grammatical que
Hello
Any offers for 'gueules' in the following sentence please
À cocher sur votre agenda tant cette fresque policière propose des ”gueules” et un univers à la Jean-Pierre Mocky.
I know what the writer means (faces that have character) and I'm almost tempted to change it around to
'an in your face police thriller' (their face in yours kind of thing) but I'm hesitant.
The cocky expression too (boat-race) for face would do the trick as we say "what a boat race" but not everyone understands cockney alas.
Any offers for 'gueules' in the following sentence please
À cocher sur votre agenda tant cette fresque policière propose des ”gueules” et un univers à la Jean-Pierre Mocky.
I know what the writer means (faces that have character) and I'm almost tempted to change it around to
'an in your face police thriller' (their face in yours kind of thing) but I'm hesitant.
The cocky expression too (boat-race) for face would do the trick as we say "what a boat race" but not everyone understands cockney alas.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | larger-than-life characters |
James Peel
|
| 2 +5 | character |
Tony M
|
| 3 | looker |
Ruth C (X)
|
| 3 | in-your-face used as an adjective |
Janice Giffin
|
| 3 | faces that jump off the screen |
Philippa Smith
|
| 3 | loudmouth character |
Stephanie Ev (X)
|
| 2 | mugs/mugshots |
Miranda Joubioux (X)
|
References
| context, better late than never |
writeaway
|
Proposed translations
15 hrs
James Peel
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Your language needs understood
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
3
Selected
larger-than-life characters
Similar to Tony M, but just adding a little flavour. Am I adding too much?
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This suggestion probably fits best here. Thanks everyone for helping out"
23 mins
looker
It could also mean "good looking person". See attached thread. A little way down someone suggests that this is used in the cinema for a "looker". I am only putting a 3 here as I'm not sure about this.
I would not use in your face thriller as that's not what it means and also the cockney rhyming slang as you correctly say is not widely enough understood.
I would not use in your face thriller as that's not what it means and also the cockney rhyming slang as you correctly say is not widely enough understood.
+5
26 mins
character
I.e. interesting characters etc.
I'm not sure it means so much 'well-known faces' (in which case, 'big names' might have done), so much as distinctive, quirky, interesting, engaging etc. characters.
I'm not sure it means so much 'well-known faces' (in which case, 'big names' might have done), so much as distinctive, quirky, interesting, engaging etc. characters.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Laurel Clausen
32 mins
|
|
Thanks, Laurel!
|
|
| agree |
Victoria Britten
46 mins
|
|
Thanks, Victoria!
|
|
| agree |
Dennis Boyd
1 hr
|
|
Thanks, DBoyd!
|
|
| agree |
tatyana000
: How about colorful or shady characters?
12 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Tatyana! Certianly along the right lines, but have to be wary of being too specific, for fear of being wrong.
|
|
| agree |
JMcKechnie
15 hrs
|
|
Thanks, JMcK!
|
35 mins
Janice Giffin
Italy
Italy
Native in English
Specializes in field
Italy
Accuracy, reliability and timeliness
Native in: English
Works in: Italian to English, Spanish to English
in-your-face used as an adjective
In other words, I like your suggestion of changing the sentence around to describing the police thriller. That's why I added the hypens...to make a one word adjective. The cockney expression would be lost on me. Otherwise, I would probably translate gueule as "character types" or, less complimentary, "stock characters".
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Note added at 3 hrs (2014-07-14 22:01:44 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_theory_(media)
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Note added at 3 hrs (2014-07-14 22:01:44 GMT)
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Character_theory_(media)
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: Although the similarity in the terms is appealing, I think it is something of a faux ami — I don't believe that is what 'gueules' (note plural) means when used in this way; I am convinced it is talking about the characters and the setting.
3 mins
|
|
As a matter of fact, I have posted a question in the discussion. Glad for your input.
|
12 hrs
mugs/mugshots
Keeping to the 'policière' theme, perhaps this is what is meant. It really depends on the context.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: I think it is unlikely that a recommendation to watch a TV programme would be based on the fact there were a lot of mugshots in it ;-)
23 hrs
|
|
You're probably right.
|
13 hrs
Philippa Smith
Native in English
Specializes in field
29 years turning out perfect English
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
15
faces that jump off the screen
You could probably get away with simply using "characters", but I agree that it could well be more physical, particularly given the description you quoted in the "en alignant des premières" question yesterday:
"Au passage, P’tit Quinquin est un gamin à la tronche impossible, entre nez tordu et bec de lièvre)."
I'm seeing it as referring to a cast of characters with really quirky faces, that "jump off the screen" at the audience, pulling them in and making them want to watch.
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Note added at 13 hrs (2014-07-15 08:25:21 GMT)
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This article on crime films is, I feel, saying the same sort of thing:
"The Italians always had a knack for using people with striking faces, and - like Jack Palance - he was definitely the proud possessor of a visage that could cause freeze mercury."
http://www.europeanfilmreview.co.uk/eurocrime/crimebusters.h...
"Au passage, P’tit Quinquin est un gamin à la tronche impossible, entre nez tordu et bec de lièvre)."
I'm seeing it as referring to a cast of characters with really quirky faces, that "jump off the screen" at the audience, pulling them in and making them want to watch.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2014-07-15 08:25:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
This article on crime films is, I feel, saying the same sort of thing:
"The Italians always had a knack for using people with striking faces, and - like Jack Palance - he was definitely the proud possessor of a visage that could cause freeze mercury."
http://www.europeanfilmreview.co.uk/eurocrime/crimebusters.h...
1 day 17 hrs
loudmouth character
That allows you to keep the reference to the idea of mouth
Discussion
You cannot overlook the ref to JP Mocky in your translation. It is specific and needs to be retained. Not all French readers would probably be familiar with him either.
As for the lead in, I'd suggest "Make a diary note..." or something similar as suggested by others.
For the JPM "univers" : http://jpierre-mocky.fr/index.php?option=com_content&view=ar... this gives you an idea of his world.
As for the "gueules", then I like "mugshots", which I see that Miranda has suggested.
I could ask my cousin, a film critic, except that he probably knows too much!
Also, what's the reference to Jean-Pierre Mocky? What kind of 'gueules' does he have in his 'univers' — I'm reading it as if the reference to J-PM applies to both?
Thanks for all the help. 'Characters' crossed my mind and it's true that you can often see character in someone's face but "gueule" is really physical, often used for people like Johnny Halliday or Joey Starr
It is true that we can tick off something in English but you don't actually erase it. It kind of means that the ticked item is no longer a worry, it has been verified.
That also explains why Americans say 'check' and English speakers say 'ticked (off)'