The Task of the Translator Page #2

Synopsis: Lynne Sachs pays homage to Walter Benjamin's essay 'The Task of the Translator' through three studies of the human body. First, she listens to the musings of a wartime doctor grappling with the task of a kind-of cosmetic surgery for corpses. Second, she witnesses a group of Classics scholars confronted with the haunting yet whimsical task of translating a newspaper article on Iraqi burial rituals into Latin. And finally, she turns to a radio news report on human remains.
Genre: Drama, Short
Director(s): Lynne Sachs
Year:
2010
10 min
35 Views


Where's that?

Well, it's kind of complicated.

Maybe one of you

should write it down.

But you took away all

of our possessions,

so how are we supposed

to write it down?

Oh, darn. Then I guess you just

have to remember everything I say.

Go straight down the hall,

hang a right,

another right, then a left.

Then straight on up the

first flight of stairs,

a left, a right,

then one more left.

You want me to say it again?

Yeah.

Too bad.

When you get there,

you'll find the key

to release you

from those shackles.

Is there anyone else inside?

Mmm. Smart question.

We'll just have

to wait and see.

I thought coming out of

the closet was scary.

Have fun,

inmates.

Good luck.

Where's she going?

Welcome to The Task.

Can you please not do that?

I can't see

a damn thing in here.

Okay. Does anybody

remember which way he said to go?

It's straight,

a right, then a left.

No, it's straight,

two rights then a left.

Too many "straights. "

No, it's, "Go straight

down the hall,

"hang a right, another

right, a left.

"Then straight on up the

first flight of stairs,

"a left, a right,

and one more left. "

What are you?

Hmm.

She's smart.

Hmm.

Bob has found us some really

great contestants here.

Guys, we're gonna

have a great show.

Careful.

Careful.

Jesus.

What is this place?

Okay,

and get ready.

That was fun.

Shut up!

And speed them up.

Yes, my queen.

Guys...

Dogs!

Hey, hey!

Go, go, go!

Come on!

Come on!

Go, go, go!

Now go!

Left turn.

Why am I not seeing anything?

Sh*t, sh*t, sh*t, sh*t.

Well,

I don't know.

The power's going down,

but the backup should've

kicked in by now.

Sh*t!

Hurry!

It's a weird glitch,

huh?

Careful!

Left!

Here we are.

Cool.

We're here.

Damn, it's cold in here.

Look, key.

Hell yeah.

Okay.

Hey, guys, look.

Yeah, come on.

Cool.

All right, you.

Who's that?

I guess

it's the Warden.

Get this one.

Yeah, my turn.

Okay, yeah.

Wow. Cool map.

Hey,

check this out.

What you got, man?

"Greetings, brave contestants.

"That would be me.

"Welcome to Warden Clem

Harvis' personal office.

"In the center of

the room is a box.

"You are to take turns

reaching in the box

"to retrieve

a single chess piece.

"This chess piece will determine

your own personal symbol.

"You cannot trade with any

of the other contestants.

"Legend has it that

the Warden used to put

"a little surprise in the box.

"Razor blades were

a personal favorite. "

Okay, now that's...

That's sick, man.

"Now, it's your turn to put

your hand in the box. "

Sh*t.

So, who wants to go first?

Me.

What the hell is going on?

I don't know.

What do you mean

you don't know?

I mean, I don't know.

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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