Captain America 2: Did You Catch This Nod to a French Cinema Legend?

Is Captain America a Francophile? The most eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted an interesting reference in the opening scene of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”

A Distinctly Local Reference

At the beginning of the movie, we see Steve Rogers chatting with Sam for the first time post-jog. The superhero, having been cryogenically frozen for 60 years, has a lot of catching up to do.

He keeps a small notebook where he jots down everything he needs to watch or listen to. In the French version, this list includes names like Louis de Funès, Coluche, “The Fifth Element,” France 98, and Daft Punk. This scene occurs at 2 minutes and 40 seconds into the film. But why do these French figures, relatively unknown in the USA, appear on his list?

Captain America Adapts

The reason is quite straightforward. It turns out that the list was adapted for each country through a contest held on social media, where fans were asked to suggest notable cultural references from the past few decades. In the United States, the list features names like Steve Jobs and Nirvana, as well as the 1969 moon landing.

In England, the list includes Sean Connery and The Beatles, while in Spain, it features tennis star Rafael Nadal and writer Camilo José Cela. Italy’s version highlights the 1982 and 2006 World Cup victories, actor Roberto Benigni, and singer Vasco Rossi. However, these country-specific scenes are no longer available on Disney+, which now only offers the international version, rather than the cinema versions tailored for specific countries.

As a reminder, “Captain America 2” unfolds after the catastrophic events in New York seen in the first Avengers film. Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, is quietly living in Washington, D.C., trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a colleague from S.H.I.E.L.D. is attacked, Steve is drawn into a web of intrigue that threatens global security.

Joining forces with Black Widow, Captain America strives to expose a growing conspiracy, while combating professional killers sent to silence him. As the scope of the villainous plot is uncovered, Captain America and Black Widow seek the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable foe: the Winter Soldier.