feature film
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feature film
A film with a fictional plot performed by actors. This distinguishes it from a documentary film.
Am Samstagabend schauen wir uns einen spannenden Spielfilm im Fernsehen an.
On Saturday evening, we'll watch an exciting feature film on TV.
'Spielfilm' is composed of 'Spiel' (play/acting) and 'Film' (film). Here, 'Spiel' refers to 'Schauspiel' (acting), that is, a plot performed by actors. A feature film is therefore literally a 'performed film.'
Für diesen historischen Spielfilm wurden Hunderte von Kostümen angefertigt.
Hundreds of costumes were made for this historical feature film.
Common verbs used with 'Spielfilm' (feature film) are 'einen Spielfilm schauen/sehen' (to watch/see a feature film), 'einen Spielfilm drehen' (to shoot/produce a feature film), or the impersonal form 'ein Spielfilm läuft' (a feature film is playing/on, in the cinema or on TV).
Der Regisseur hat drei Jahre an diesem Spielfilm gearbeitet.
The director worked on this feature film for three years.
The word 'Spielfilm' (feature film) is often used to emphasize the fictional character of a film. It sets it apart from formats that depict real events, such as documentaries or news reports.
Die Geschichte basiert auf wahren Begebenheiten, wurde aber als Spielfilm umgesetzt.
The story is based on true events, but it was made as a feature film.
film
'der Film' and 'der Spielfilm' can both mean a work with moving images. But 'der Film' is more general: it can be a feature film, a documentary, or even a short informational film. 'der Spielfilm' is more specific and means a film with a fictional plot and actors. Learners may confuse the words because in everyday language people often simply say 'Film', even when they actually mean a feature film. If the contrast with a documentary is important, 'Spielfilm' fits better.
Meine Kollegin empfiehlt mir einen Spielfilm, weil sie die Geschichte sehr spannend findet.
My colleague recommends a feature film to me because she finds the story very exciting.
Am Abend sieht Noah mit einem Freund einen Film über das Leben im Meer.
In the evening, Noah watches a film about life in the sea with a friend.