Last night I went to see Max Manus, a Norwegian movie about the German occupation of Norway during WWII. The critics have been very positive, a milion people has seen it (population: 4,7 million ), and everyone just think it's great. And it was, it was good. I just never get used to the fact that the actors are speaking Norwegian. Somehow, I don't find Norwegian movies to be as convincing as foreign ones, the actors' lines often sound fake, I just don't buy it. The Germans in Max Manus (speaking German) sounded far more convincing than all of the Norwegians!
This goes for all Norwegian movies, and I don't think it's (just ) because our actors are bad. I think it has something to do with the use of my native language. I suppose it's just easier to detect it if the lines aren't delivered in a completely convincing fashion? And also, maybe, that I usually watch movies in English, and so is used to hearing dramatic stuff spoken in English. (WWII movie counts as dramatic. ) An example from Notting Hill springs to mind: "Inform the Pentagon we need Black Star cover!" I wouldn't have reacted if someone had said that in an American movie. If it had been said in Norwegian in a Norwegian movie, I would have laughed.
The most effective line in Max Manus, in my opinion, was when the hero (Max) told an English officer, in English: "My country was stolen from me, sir. And I want it back." And I just know it wouldn't have worked as well (for me) if he had said it in Norwegian.
Does anyone else experience this? That movies were a foreign language are spoken are more convincing than movies in your native language? Or is it just that I am brainwashed from watching too many Hollywood movies? How about you English speakers?