[REL] Madita - the series (1979)

[Night457]

-This episode also reminded me that Sweden still has a constitutional monarchy

I have heard rumors that the U.K. still does also!

Anyway, this takes place over 100 years ago.

Their laundry woman is Linus-Ida.

-The girl fight! is great. It looks like they are really fighting. Makes me wonder how many takes it took to get it right.

I hope a whole lot, and I hope they had fun!!!

-I edited these two shots together so we could see Madicken crying to the song and Lisabet's knowing smile.

I guess Lisabet thinks getting sentimental over a song is kind of silly!

-Madicken makes the dubious claim that she won the fight...definitly questionable...

"You shoulda seen the OTHER girl!"
Or Raging Bull: "You never got me down, Ray."

The girls in bed praying for Mia's soul because she said "bastard" and "hussy" is sweet

Incidentally, I made one arbitrary choice in my translation and certainly there are other options. I don't remember what other translators chose. The words have English meanings with varying degrees of harshness.

jävelunge: jävel unge
jävel - son of a bitch, fucker, prick, shit, jerk
unge - young, kid, cub, youngster, brat

And then they considered that maybe they misheard Mia, that she actually said something that might NOT be so awful

jäntunge - little bitch, hussy, chit, little girl, lass, child

Madicken thinks it must be a horrible sin to swear, but Lisabet seems a little more skeptical ... AND she likes to swear in secret, because it is FUN to be naughty!

Sidenote, but I have heard Sweden is a very secular country, so I was surprised by the religious themes throughout.

Like I said, this was 100 years ago. I don't feel up to giving a lecture on the changing influence of religion in Europe (or anywhere else) during the 20th century and I am sure this is not the place for it. There must be some Wikipedia entry on the subject for the interested.

Was Astrid raised religious?

Her parents were farmers and therefore hard-working and traditional. I can not find any evidence of religion being important in her life, but I have not gone so far as to read an actual biography. Some of her stories (like Emil) poke gentle fun at certain religious ideas, but nothing that would be a raging polemic. She most certainly had very strong and unwavering views on RIGHT and WRONG and was not afraid to speak out on issues she was passionate about.

Finally, this is my spirit animal traveling around asking people nicely to watch this show.

I choked with LOLs!

[mgray]

Yeah I understand part of translating is taking liberties with phrases and word choices, so I just go with whatever the translator chooses and take it at face value since you all put in the work, but that is interesting to read how you come to your decisions. I think it would be rewarding and fun to try to translate something, not just because it would help you learn about another language and culture, but the creative decisions that go into how you translate the language.

I know some people are very dedicated to keeping it as accurate as possible to the original meaning with notes about cultural phrases, and the other is being very liberal and more fitting for the destination country. There is a game company called "NIS" that gets a lot of flak for throwing in a lot of pop culture references that some people find inappropriate. I'd be interested in your take on those 2 ends of the spectrum or if it lies somewhere close in the middle. I assume it also depends on what you're working on, as Madicken is historical fiction, and therefore staying true to original intent is probably pretty important.

Either way, I GREATLY appreciate anyone that chooses to put their time and effort into a translation that is just doing it as a hobby and I have nothing but respect for that effort.

[Night457]

Yeah I understand part of translating is taking liberties with phrases and word choices, so I just go with whatever the translator chooses and take it at face value since you all put in the work...

Funny, I end up "arguing" with translators all the time because I get enraged that they dumb down the translation too much! They assume that people who watch "foreign" films only do so by accident and have no knowledge or interest in other cultures. If the viewer is confronted by anything different than their own personal experience, they apparently will curl up into a ball and start crying.

Off-topic example:

Spoiler: My biggest pet peeve is the frequent mistranslation of "Aniki" in Japanese gangster films. It means "older brother" and is a respectful term that usually refers a superior member in the Yakuza organization rather than an actual biological brother. This concept is apparently so alien to Western audiences that translators usually substitute the character's name for this form of address. For godsakes, just use the term "brother"! If someone watches Yakuza movies then they want to know about Yakuza culture!

I think it would be rewarding and fun to try to translate something, not just because it would help you learn about another language and culture, but the creative decisions that go into how you translate the language.

It IS a lot of fun, the most fun I have had that involves real work!

I know some people are very dedicated to keeping it as accurate as possible to the original meaning with notes about cultural phrases, and the other is being very liberal and more fitting for the destination country. ... I'd be interested in your take on those 2 ends of the spectrum or if it lies somewhere close in the middle.

On that spectrum I am a HARD RIGHT CONSERVATIVE: translate what they say and do not adapt it to another culture! Mind you, it is only rational to be flexible and understand that a strictly literal translation is likely to be nonsense. I am the kind of uber-geek who would LOVE a separate file or printed page with translation notes, explaining certain cultural idiosyncrasies revealed in the dialog. I find that fascinating. If it is some curiosity that I am not interested in learning about, I would just ignore it and move on anyway.

On-topic example: a number of Lindgren stories feature the Jultomten / Christmas Tomten, and translators usually convert him to "Santa Claus". He is NOT f*ing Santa Claus! Look it up, you can start here:
https://www.dailyscandinavian.com/the-tomten/

Going back to the "bastard" / "hussy" example, which was a play on words in the Swedish that was not apparent in my episode translation ... when I later translated that portion of the story for the "Madicken på Junibacken (1980)" compilation film, I tried a more liberal approach and attempted my own play on words:

I don't think she said "bastard," but "bad turd."

See? They simply MISHEARD Mia. She did not say something really harsh, just a silly childish insult. That's all. She does not have to go to hell for that!

[mgray]

So have you heard the UK Mardie is also the most faithful English translation? That's the edition I own. It still bugs me they change her name, but I can live with it, I guess. It seems like they change her name in every single version(i know her real name is Margereta, but you get my point.)
I'd like to own anything Madicken related that is for sale. I have the two German editions of the movies on DVD and what I believe is the first book with 2 different covers(I am weird) if there is anything you know of let me know. I don't guess the series was ever released was it?

I noticed the Tomten translation. I actually just noticed that it's supposed to be her dad on one of my recent viewings..../facepalm "He's wearing the same boots as dad!" As well as him sliding away in the previous scene. I think there is someone else credited at the end so it wasn't really him, right? I always assumed it was just something Alva had arranged.

Japanese is the only language I ever attempted to try and learn, but I got to the part where they use different words based on the distance of an object, and I started to come to grips that it probably wasn't going to happen. I might take another stab someday because it was fun, but pretty hard and felt like a lofty goal for languages. Would probably be easier to try something closer to English.

[Night457]

So have you heard the UK Mardie is also the most faithful English translation?

That's what I read about the translations too, and I also hate the name changes but it is the one I bought anyway. They were damn expensive used hardcovers, too. It's a shame they are out of print when most other Lindgren translations are still in print. That UK edition I believe also has an additional chapter that is left out of the U.S. version!

I'd like to own anything Madicken related that is for sale.

In addition to the 2 German DVDs there are the 2 Scandinavian DVDs and matching blu-rays. They were harder for me to get: sometimes available at Amazon.co.uk, or eBay, or the rare Scandinavian retailer that would ship to me in the U.S. (Generally they will ship in the E.U. without issue.) Of course they only have the Scandinavian subtitles.

I have never seen any release of the series on physical media (disc), only streaming online on sites like svtplay.se.

There are plush toys at https://astridlindgrenstore.com, as well as clothing. I am quite sure I would not fit into the Madicken and Lisabet dresses, however, so I can't imagine buying them for myself! Various LPs, K7s, CDs at discogs.com.

I actually just noticed that it's supposed to be her dad on one of my recent viewings..../facepalm

And here I thought you were observant for small details!

I think there is someone else credited at the end so it wasn't really him, right?

No, "Tanten" would be "Aunt" or "Auntie" -- an older woman. Maybe the woman in the window addressed by the sleigh driver?

Even with the hundreds of Japanese movies I watched I still only know a few words! Supposedly the best way to learn a language is to babysit a native speaking preschooler and watch children's TV shows with them! Start from the beginning!

[liten_alv]

So I won't download them, 'cause I hate any kind of censorship.

I agree with the sentiment, but I'll download cut versions if it's something I like enough. Seems kind of like participating in something unclean though. Still, I will keep my eyes open for the pure, unadulterated version.

[Night457]

Still, I will keep my eyes open for the pure, unadulterated version.

The uncut Swedish versions at least are in this thread, although not all in HD 720p or FHD 1080p. A few years ago, I found Czech videos at ulozto for some of the episodes that were superior video quality to all others I could find. I spent a good deal of time comparing different versions from multiple sources, including some that were "1080p" but not in fact better in appearance. I muxed in the Swedish audio when I had superior Czech video. Since then, the Czechs have continued to upload other episodes in higher resolution, but I have not been motivated enough to download and compare video versions yet again. I will still get the same pleasure from rewatching the mere 576p versions that I have for some of the episodes, and I won't get more pleasure giving myself more work!

If you have a few days free, you can read all my posts in this thead, ha ha. There is quite a lot of detail I have relentlessly posted.

[mgray]

[Image]


I've always thought she looked especially cute at the start of this episode on the boat with Alva. The look of disappointment bordering on amusement.

edit. btw what color is her hair? I'm colorblind, but sometimes it looks like a sandy blonde, sometimes it just looks brown?

[Night457]

Both Madicken and little sister Lisabet are blondes.
(Sandy blonde is a reasonable description.)
Their chief rivals Mia and Mattis are redheads.

[mexlink]

Episodes 1-10 as shared at FLM by Night457 on eMule, now downloadable from ulozto:
https://ulozto.net/tamhle/ffeWxSO77oAk/ ... Vhswp5ZD==

Sorry, but the folder is empty when I clicked on it. Do you mind sharing them again?