Healthcare, VRI-Video Remote Interpreting

Lost in Translation: How TV and Movies Get Language Services Wrong (and Sometimes Right)

Toni Andrews|May 15, 2025

Reading Time: ~4 mins

Lost in Transation: How TV and Movies Get Language Services Wrong (and Sometimes Right)

We’ve all been there. You’re watching a courtroom drama, and the lawyer yells “Objection!” every five seconds. Or a medical show where someone flatlines and the doctor yells “We’re losing him!” while pounding on the chest like it’s a bongo drum. Real professionals cringe—and for good reason.

Just like doctors, lawyers, and cops, interpreters and translators have their own “oh no they didn’t” moments when watching TV and movies. From interpreter stereotypes to the misrepresentation of language professionals, Hollywood has a flair for the dramatic… and the inaccurate.

Let’s take a look at how interpreting in film and translation in media stack up against the real world—and where they actually get it right.

🎭 The Good, the Bad, and the Completely Made-Up

✅ When They Get It Right

Let’s give credit where it’s due. HBO’s new medical drama The Pitt has been praised by healthcare professionals for its realism. In Episode 3, a Nepali-speaking patient communicates with her doctor using Video Remote Interpreting (VRI)—a win for authentic interpreting scenes! Scene from The Pitt

But even The Pitt couldn’t resist a little Hollywood flair. The doctor determines the patient’s language by pulling up a world map on her phone and having the patient point to Nepal. Cute? Sure. Realistic? Not quite.

🛠️ What Really Happens

In real healthcare settings, professionals don’t rely on geography quizzes. Instead, they use tools like the Language ID Card provided by iTi. This two-sided, laminated card features the phrase:

“Point out your language and we will call an interpreter. The service is free.”

…in over 200 languages, including Nepali. It’s a simple, effective, and Joint Commission-approved method. Learn more about the Joint Commission’s Speak Up program.

🤦‍♀️ When Hollywood Gets It Hilariously Wrong

Let’s talk about the show Getting On. In one scene, a patient and staff struggle to communicate, leading to a comedy of errors. It’s funny—until you realize that in real life, this would be a compliance nightmare.

Watch the scene here:

Under the Affordable Care Act, healthcare providers are required to offer a qualified medical interpreter. No guessing games. No charades. Just clear communication.

At iTi, we make it easy with:

A simple VRI app accessible from any smart device
Mobile Terpii Carts that can roll from ER to OR
24/7 access to professional interpreters in hundreds of languages

🎥 Common Tropes and Stereotypes

Here are a few of the most common (and cringeworthy) tropes we see:

📺 Interpreter Stereotypes

The “magical polyglot” who speaks 47 languages fluently
The interpreter who adds their own commentary (nope, we don’t do that)
The “invisible” intrepreter who’s just… there

❌ Misrepresentation of Language Professionals

Translators shown interpreting spoken dialogue (they don’t)
Interpreters acting as negotiators or cultural advisors (not their job)
No mention of confidentiality, neutrality, or accuracy (hugely important)

🎭 Language Barriers as Plot Devices

Misunderstandings that lead to war, heartbreak, or hilarious hijinks
Characters suddenly becoming fluent in a language they didn’t know five minutes ago
No interpreter in sight during critical moments (because drama!)

🎯 Why Accuracy Matters

Language access isn’t just a plot point—it’s a lifeline. Whether it’s a courtroom, hospital, or international summit, realistic interpreter roles and cultural mediation in film can help raise awareness about the importance of professional language services.