Lost in Translation

Lost in Translation is a great movie. So great I am going to make it my post tonight.

I feel personally drawn to this movie for several reasons. First the movie slogan is awesome (Everyone wants to be found). Second, I have traveled across the globe on numerous occasions going from The States to Hong Kong. I know what it feels like to be jet lagged and "lost in translation" when you get to your foreign destination. Third, having lived in Hong Kong makes me appreciate the asian oddities that they highlight in the movie. Hong Kong is not Japan, but there are quite a few similarities. You may not be able to totally appreciate the tone that Sofia Coppola creates in the movie until you have endured a 24 hour flight to a EXTREMELY foreign country. That is a jet lag you have never experienced. And in that severe a case of jet lag everything becomes surreal without any help.

Lost in Translation was written and directed by Sofia Coppola. The movie includes Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, and Anna Faris.

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is a celebrity who is shooting a comercial in Tokyo for a Japanese whiskey company. As the movie unfolds it becomes apparent that his relationship with his wife and family is very stressed. At the same hotel where Bob Harris is staying is another young couple. The husband is a photographer (Giovanni Ribisi) and the wife (Scarlett Johansson) is accompanying her husband for the week of the photo shoot. Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is newly graduated from Yale and newly married. She is having a hard time, especially alone in Tokyo while her husband is working, and is unsure of why she got married. Bob Harris and Charlotte end up spending more and more time together as a distraction from their respective currently crappy relationships/lives. They end up in some pretty weird circumstances as they explore the city together. They both struggle to not cross the line as they try and sort out their respective emotions.

There are some classic scenes from the movie. One involves a prostitute that the director of the commercial sends to Bob Harris' hotel room. She states that she is there to give him a "premium fantasy" upon her arrival at his hotel room. Her english is horrible and her definition of a fantasy is extremly eastern. It is crazy and embarrassing. Bob Harris just wants to get away but she won't let him. A second one is with the director of one of Bob Harris' commercial shoots. The director is trying to give Bob instructions on what to do. He talks for 5 minutes and the translator only translates 2 words to Bob Harris. Bob then responds with 2 words and the translator talks to the director for 5 minutes. Bob keeps asking if there is anything else that is being said because the Japanese to English is so disporportionate. If you have ever translated or had someone translate for you, you will appreciate the scene.

Anyway, I recommend the movie because it accurately addresses how most of us feel from time to time...lost in this big world of ours. Sometimes the feeling of being lost is exaserbated while in certain circumstances (like flying to Tokyo and being completely jet lagged). It's theraputic to know you aren't the only one who can feel lost in the world. It is also important to understand and appreciate having someone or someones in your life that make you feel completely comfortable with who you are.

Other information:
Sofia Coppola was nominated for an Oscar for Best Director for Lost in Translation.
Sofia Coppola is the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola and the cousing of Nicolas Cage.
If you want some more information on Bill Murray check out my post on The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.
Scarlett Johansson was cast as Black Widow in Iron Man 2.
Giovanni Ribisi is going to be in a slew of good movies coming out soon. Most notably Public Enemies with Johhny Depp and Christane Bale and Middle Men with Luke Wilson and James Caan. I really want to see Public Enemies when it comes out.