Film: Lost In Translation
Director: Sofia Coppola
Country: USA
Released: August 2003
Runtime: 102 minutes
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Studio: Zoetrope
Influenced: Spike Jonze, Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig, Lena Dunham, Barry Jenkins
Sofia Coppola based the screenplay for Lost in Translation on her own experiences as a young woman travelling to Tokyo. In this way, the film reflects her feelings of disorientation and cultural clash when she first encountered the bright lights of the world's largest metropolis. Coppola wanted to create a story that captured the sense of isolation and the fleeting connections that can occur in such a large, unknowable city. After the success of her debut feature, The Virgin Suicides (1999), Coppola was able to secure a modest budget for her next film and made signing up Bill Murray to play the lead role her number one priority. Even after filming started, there was some uncertainty about whether Murray would turn up in Tokyo, but for cinema's sake and ours, it's good he did. Murray's comic performances is more subtle and understated in Lost In Translation than is standard for him, and this toned down version of his comic persona chimes well with the movie's themes of middle-age crisis and alienation.
That's not to say the film lacks for moments of Murray magic, such as the brilliantly comic look on his character Bob’s face when a fax comes through at 4:20 in the morning. There are also a fair few westerner vs Japanese height comparison gags, in the lift and in the shower, that Murray plays with his usual aplomb. His character Bob Harris is a faded movie star who finds himself in Tokyo to shoot a whisky commercial for Suntory. There, in the hotel, he develops a relationship with Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a young woman accompanying her photographer husband. Bob generally looks bemused throughout the film, and is quite literally lost in translation during the making the Suntory TV ad, and while watching Japanese TV in his hotel room. As for Charlotte, we're given the impression of a lost soul who spends much of her free time wandering aimlessly around Tokyo. In one scene, we see her listening to an audiobook called, A Soul’s Search.
Both are dealing with a sense of dissatisfaction and loneliness in their lives, and together they form a brief but profound connection as they navigate the unfamiliar and sometimes surreal landscape of Tokyo. A key scene in the film is when Charlotte asks Bob, “does it get easier?”, to which he initially replies no, and then changes his answer to yes. Bob imparts a sense of wisdom to the young and uncertain Charlotte, reassuring her that, while life remains full of challenges as we grow older, we also tend to become more resilient and more adept at coping with life's complexities too. Lost In Translation is unique in being a romantic comedy that involves two characters from different generations, who find platonic rather than romantic love. On their night out together in Tokyo, there are moments where it feels like things could be more than platonic, but at the end of the evening Bob carries a sleeping Charlotte from the taxi to her hotel room, and tucks her in to bed. It's one of many touching moments in the movie, along with the famous closing scene, in which we see Bob whisper to Charlotte; however, Coppola keeps what was said a secret.
Lost in Translation received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, as well as Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) and Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) for Murray. Coppola also received the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay. As well as the writing, I also love Coppola's use of music in the movie, not least in the karaoke scene where Bob sings amusing but downbeat versions of Nick Lowe's (What’s So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding and Roxy Music's More Than This. Coppola also makes clever use of the music of Kevin Shields and My Bloody Valentine on the soundtrack, as well as The Jesus & Mary Chain's iconic track, Just Like Honey. Also notable is the work of the film's director of photography Lance Acord, who captures light in the film so well, especially in the lovely outdoor scenes of Scarlett exploring Tokyo, including old temples and gardens. Plus art director Mayumi Tomita did a wonderful job sourcing so many iconic locations across the city. Tokyo really is one of the stars of the movie.
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