Racist synchronization
After protest: Netflix sets “Kevin – Alone in New York” new
– The actress Thelma Buabeng made sure that Netflix takes a more critical look at its German dubbing © Kimi Palme
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by Sarah Stendel
January 19, 2021, 2:18 pm-
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In the Christmas classic “Kevin – Alone in New York”, the German dubbing turns out to be racist in places – even though the original is harmless. The actress Thelma Buabeng drew attention to this. And got a call from Netflix.
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They belong to Christmas like Christmas trees and presents: The films “Kevin – Alone at Home” and “Kevin – Alone in New York” are considered classics in many families. In 2020 they could be seen on Netflix, among others. But when the actress Thelma Buabeng tuned in, she didn’t feel at all like Christmas – on the contrary. She noticed racist translations in the German dubbing. Particularly spicy: She compared the corresponding scene that takes place at the beginning of the New York Kevin film with the English original – and the racist terms did not appear there at all. “I was really stunned,” says Buabeng. On Instagram, she vented her anger.
“How can it be that a German dubbing studio comes up with completely unnecessary racist translations for a children’s or family film? Indeed made up, because in the English original there is neither the I-word nor the N-word. That is ignorance and disrespect for indigenous and black people cannot be surpassed, “she grumbled, comparing the relevant passages.
Thousands of followers responded to the post and supported their question to Netflix as to whether something like this could not be dubbed. In fact, Buabeng now got a call from the streaming service. A member of staff thanked for the hint and apologized on behalf of Netflix. She also promised that the passage would be changed on the next broadcast. “I didn’t expect that,” says Buabeng, referring to her range on the social platforms often also politically and activistically uses the stern. The conversation is an important signal for them. “Something like that can only be prevented if there are more BIPOC (” Black, Indigenous, and people of color “, editor’s note) in the offices who say that it is not possible. That’s why I think it’s good if like in the case of Netflix we are listened to and we are brought to the table. ”
“I am not the synchronized police”
Unfortunately, “Kevin – Alone in New York” is not an isolated incident. As an actress, Buabeng sometimes works in dubbing studios herself and was only recently annoyed because she was supposed to speak German with an accent to a black woman who spoke perfect English in the original. The 39-year-old refused. “How do you come up with something like that?” She asks. The dubbing industry often has a racism problem.
In the social networks Thelma Buabeng also felt a lot of hostility through the success. “I’m not the synchronized police,” she says. “I just wanted to point out racism in a family film. Of course, I’m not in favor of censorship in principle. But in children’s films like Pippi Longstocking, or in an imaginary form like Kevin, the N-word really doesn’t have to appear.” As a black actress, she is often asked to speak up about racism. It is a lot that she did not choose that way. Nevertheless, she does it again and again, especially to be a role model for the younger generation.
“We all live in racist structures, you don’t have to be a racist to say racist things. I am still learning. It’s often tedious and exhausting. I don’t always want to talk about racism, but reality catches up with me, when I sit in front of the television at Christmas and hear this word, “says Thelma Buabeng.
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