Feu follet
I recently watched Louis Malle's Le Feu Follet, which is marketed as The Fire Within for English-speaking audiences. I'm wondering about that translation.
For me, the fire within" would, in the English language, suggest an essential soul-spark, intended to be perceived as true and real. (We talk of someone "burning with faith" for example, or someone with a fiery spirit.)
Feu follet, however, seems to be French for "will-o'-the-wisp", which has connotations of insubstantiality and falseness. So it would seem that the English title is very nearly the opposite of its French meaning.
Also: I can only find the word "follet" occuring in the phrase "feu follet". Is it not in use as a "regular" word? It seemed like a peculiar French word to begin with, so I wouldn't be surprised if it were some archaic word that only survives in this one particular expression. I'm assuming it's etymologically related to "fou"...
For me, the fire within" would, in the English language, suggest an essential soul-spark, intended to be perceived as true and real. (We talk of someone "burning with faith" for example, or someone with a fiery spirit.)
Feu follet, however, seems to be French for "will-o'-the-wisp", which has connotations of insubstantiality and falseness. So it would seem that the English title is very nearly the opposite of its French meaning.
Also: I can only find the word "follet" occuring in the phrase "feu follet". Is it not in use as a "regular" word? It seemed like a peculiar French word to begin with, so I wouldn't be surprised if it were some archaic word that only survives in this one particular expression. I'm assuming it's etymologically related to "fou"...