As the year draws to a close, we’d like to take a look back at the classic Christmas film “Home Alone,” released in 1990. If you’ve already seen this film, you’ll remember the iconic line “Keep the change, you filthy animal,” which appears several times during the protagonist’s adventures. In fact, this line, uttered by young Kevin McCallister, has become a cinematic meme, especially among English-speaking audiences
However, how do you translate a line like this in another language?
To begin with, a quick memory refresher is in order for those who don’t remember this scene very well: In the film, the young protagonist, Kevin McCallister, is inadvertently left alone at home during Christmas, while his family goes on vacation. The scene in question takes place when Kevin orders a pizza (earlier in the film, while watching a fictional black-and-white film called “Angels with Filthy Souls,” the film’s character utters this line rather dramatically before shooting someone). Kevin then uses this line as if he’s talking to the pizza guy, asking him to keep the change while pretending he’s armed. Later in the film, Kevin uses this same recording to fool burglars trying to break into his house.
Original Version, English
In its original version, the line “Keep the change, you filthyanimal” is loaded with humor and contempt, to say the least. In fact, a quick look back at the scene: when the delivery man calls Kevin a “cheapskate,” it’s because he only leaves him a 20-cent tip ($12, while his pizza costs $11.80), whereas in the USA, the usual tip is 15%.
Its sarcastic tone captivates English-speaking audiences, all the more so when spoken by Kevin to the burglar, underscoring his mischievous yet ingenious character. Ultimately, it’s the delivery of this line that makes it so powerful, and therein lies the challenge for the translators: maintain that delicate balance between contempt and humor.
French version
Translators face a number of challenges when it comes to audiovisual translation. In fact, it requires a very special kind of creativity. In this case, the mocking, comic tone must be maintained, the uniqueness of the original line preserved, but the credibility of the line when spoken by the character must also be taken into account: lip movements must coincide.
So, in the French version of the film, the line becomes “Tu peux garder la monnaie, ça ne me dérange pas” (“You can keep the change, I don’t mind”). This translation, in this context, retains the idea of contempt, and thus maintains the original humor of the scene.
Finally, the translation of this famous line shows just how complex the work of translators can be. They have to juggle the subtleties of the languages to capture the essence of the film. While the English version plays with words, the French version opts for cultural equivalents that make you laugh in the same way. So, whether in “Home Alone” or in any other case, translation is much more than simply moving words from one language to another; it’s a delicate art that preserves the essence and magic of cinema, whatever the language.
Also check out FOX6’s article, which notes a radical change due to inflation, and offers an amusing — if somewhat tongue-in-cheek — comparison of what Kevin paid for groceries back then with today’s prices. Click here to read the article.