Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation is a deeply contemplative indie film that tells the story of two lonely souls who find a connection in an unexpected place.
It revolves around two main characters—Bob Harris (played by Bill Murray) and Charlotte (played by Scarlett Johansson). Bob is a famous Hollywood actor going through a midlife crisis, visiting Tokyo to shoot a whisky commercial for Suntory. Charlotte is a young fresh graduate from Yale University, accompanying her photographer husband in a business trip to Japan. The two characters meet in the same city, where they bonded over a shared sense of dislocation and uncertainty about their lives. Bob and Charlotte, both emotionally neglected by their partners, soon developed romantic feelings for each other which led to their choice of eloping in the end.
This film is far more atmospheric than plot-driven: we whiz through Tokyo parties, karaoke bars, and odd nightlife, always ending up in the impossibly posh hotel where the two characters are staying.
Carried heavily by the characters' disconnection to a foreign country and unseasoned jokes, the film fails to develop its premise beyond what it is. Its lack of a clear plot progression and excessive number of uncomfortable scenes made it harder for me to engage with the film. Many scenes that were added for “comedic relief” seemed to have racist innuendo—particularly so in a scene where a Japanese lady barges into Bob’s hotel room to provide sexual comfort “unwillingly” and Bob unable to decipher whether she is telling him to "lip", “rip” or “lick” her stockings. The scene was probably meant to be uncomfortable, to emphasize feelings of confusion and Bob being a misfit in the Japanese city, but it was a little off-putting.
Still, I enjoyed the film. Tokyo’s cityscape, captured in cinematic shots directed by Sofia Coppola, were undeniably beautiful to watch. The characters were very well-developed. The plot was light-hearted and thought-provoking, but it went nowhere, and the ending was ambiguous so I would not recommend it if you were looking for dramatic plot advancements. Lost in Translation is an experience. It serves as a comfort movie for lost souls searching for human connection and a purpose in life. Everything featured in the film was intentional and you really must analyse deeper beyond the visuals to truly appreciate it. The film contrasts and criticises the fast-paced modern society. It is slow. Excruciatingly slow. But I would likely rewatch it when I am older, just to experience it in a more matured perspective.
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