Lost in Translation - Film Review

A faded movie star and a neglected young wife form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo.

Lost in Translation is a 2003 American comedy-drama film. It was written and directed by Sophia Coppola and stars Bill Murray as the lonely Bob Harris, and Scarlett Johansson as Charlotte - a young woman trying to find her purpose in life.

The film in itself is a gem, defining the true meaning of humanity and perfectly depicting the feelings that one experiences when thrown out of one's comfort zone, and into the foreign spaces of the world. A romantic comedy from start to finish; the film delivers a story full of understated providence and simple reflection which everyone can tap into.

'A relationship picture with elegant connective tissue;
   it's brittle and real, focused on the nuances of body
     language and unspoken desire, while indulging in a cheeky
     bit of knowing absurdity when the mood strikes' - Rotten
     Tomatoes.

The title of the film offers several meanings. The first: that when visiting another country where one perceives the language to be foreign, one is thrust into a state of disorientation and confusion. The second: that when exploring a new place one can loose track of time whilst immersing oneself in the experience. The third: that when spending time with relative strangers one can become lost in the translation of deciphering that which others are trying to convey without using words.

For example: the slight tilt of the head may be translated as the obvious notion of boredom. However, it could also mean that they are listening or thinking intently, and - if the tilt is accompanied by a smile - they could simply be showing signs of friendliness, or even playfulness, and perhaps flirtatiousness.

'...a deceptively simple study in unrequited attraction...'

You see, there aren't many ways of translating body language, and it is often left to one's imagination and intuition to interpret them. This is perhaps the films greatest achievement, in that the viewer is left to decide for themselves the type of relationship that unfolds between the characters.

One might say that the film is a wonderful take on a typical 'boy meets girl' film, with a melancholy and yet comical undertone that revels in the actors subtlety and the freedom of

interpretation and translation.

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