This is what this very entertaining movie was for me: an allegory of the failed European Union. The young British writer and his old French mentor represent the European ideals, the editor represents a bureaucrat from Brussels who has forgotten why he's in the business he's in and is currently only preoccupied by money and control, and the translators represent their countries. It's a very interesting point of view, as it's rare to see this interpretation: two countries who either never were a part of the system or already left (Russia and UK) are the ones who have these values and ideals closest to their hearts. The Italian guy changes sides whenever it suits him, the Greek is old, tired and trying to survive, but not afraid to die, poor Danish woman doesn't feel accomplished and commits a suicide, the German girl is very capable and dedicated to reaching the goal, the Spaniard who at one point seems about to crash finally plots how to win the game by using his language as a tool, the Russian girl translates from Spanish to Mandarin, so that China is informed. They all rebel against the evil editor who has them locked down in a bunker. In a way it's a feel-good, optimistic movie about human nature and how human ideals will always win in the end.
Review of The Translators
