"Vad handlar filmen om?"

Translation: What is the movie about?

[Sjodni]

what is handlar doing here?

[Lundgren8]

Handla has several meanings, one of them is ”to be about” or ”to deal with”, when you talk about books and movies. A related word is handling which means ’plot, story’. It’s similar to the French word s’agir if you speak French.

[alexis15243]

Thanks for this useful explanation (as always). I would only correct you on the verb "s'agir" (a tricky one) which wouldn't be used in this case (de quoi parle le film ?).

[HelenCarlsson]

handla om = be about
handling = plot

The verb "handla" on the other hand means "act" or "shop".

[Sjodni]

Oh, the verb shop! And, now this makes more sense.

[Aristotels]

present continuous here in english is not correct when its like "what is the film dealing with"?
or is it not because a film does it in general and not the time we talk about it?

[Sninguistics]

It's correct in terms of grammar, but when it comes to permanent properties (a film can be about one or many things, and it can't suddenly stop being about that thing or things) you should use the simple present tense.

[Kevinlinton_]

Can one say "vad är filmen om?" Or "vad är filmens handling?"? Tack!

[devalanteriel]

The first: not really. The second: yes, but it sounds really unidiomatic and would clearly show you're not a native.