Netflix forced to change subtitle offering on hit film Roma

NETFLIX has reacted to controversy over its subtitling of the mostly Spanish-language film Roma after being accused of being ‘ignorant’.

The original offering of ‘European Spanish’ subtitles on the Mexican film on Netflix and in cinemas in Spain provoked angry reactions from viewers and the director, Alfonso Cuaron, who said the move was ‘parochial, ignorant and offensive to Spaniards themselves’ during an interview with El Pais.

Today, Netflix responded by dropping the ‘European Spanish’ option and replacing it with ‘Spanish’ closed captioning, which transcribes what is spoken onscreen, rather than translating concepts for a non-local audience.