Lost in Translation

UK DVD release date - June 28th 2004

Sophie Coppola’s second major film, her first since the excellent ‘Virgin Suicides’. As in her previous film the female lead here, played by Scarlett Johansson, is unsure of her future. Newly married and just out of college she has decisions to make and is not sure where her talents and passions lie. Her husband is busy with his career which she isn’t a part of, floating in limbo, she finds herself lonely away from her home in Japan.

This life is reflected in the ‘waiting room’ setting of the Tokyo hotel with its long corridors, characterless rooms and conference halls. The bar, filled with people she cannot engage or relate to, is reminiscent of an airport departure lounge with people coming and going, with no one actually making worthwhile interactions. Alone most of the time while her husband is on photo shoots she cannot relate to people she meets, they either speak a foreign language to her or may as well speak a foreign language for all the sense they make.

Then in the bar she notices someone else is finding this whole environment uncomfortable, another person who is out of place. She meets Bill Murray’s character Bob Harris, a Hollywood actor in Japan endorsing a whisky brand for mega bucks. He too is at a similar cross roads in his life. His wife and children don’t need him any longer and his professional life is unfulfilling. Neither can sleep and both need to escape, from the hotel, from their routines, from their skins.

Not a great deal happens in Lost in Translation. It is a subtle and gentle film. These qualities embodied in performance by Scarlett Johansson which is all beguiling gestures and wistful wondering in this alien land.

Bill Murray is excellent, and very funny highlighting the differences between Eastern and Western cultures. The film was accused of Japanese bashing when it came out. But really the valets that dote on Bill Murray, the preposterous TV presenter and eccentric photographers could as easily be American or British. The differences between our cultures are pointed out at times but often they are celebrated. Tokyo nightlife is shown in a positive light and the interesting Japanese people they meet at the parties and clubs are a relief for them from the uptight people in the hotel or the American bubble heads. In the neon arcades Charlotte is in awe of the dancing kids.

A film described as ‘charming’ may sound like one to avoid. But this is a very good film, well deserving of its Oscar nominations. It is also refreshing that the film is free of swearing, there are no sex scenes and there is no violence. The relationship that grows between the two main characters is believable and despite the age difference there is never a hint of sleaze. As the relationship progresses and they care more for each other we believe how easy it must be for them to fall in love, it wasn’t premeditated, these were people with gaps in their lives, more than anything they have fun together.

The scene where they are singing Karaoke with their friends is fun and tender when Bob sings to Charlotte. Together they are able to forget their problems and decisions, life is simple. They escape the hotel and have fun together doing whatever.

The final scene is very effective and as with the rest of the film, understated. What does he whisper to her?

An excellent film deserving of its accolades. With this, The Royal Tenenbaums and Rushmore it seems Bill Murray’s days of doing ‘turkeys’ are over. Scarlett Johansson is an actress men fall in love with and women aspire to be - Go see it.

Jamie O'Connell