LOST IN TRANSLATION (SOFIA COPPOLA, 2003)

Lost in Translation is a 2003 American film written and directed by Sofia Coppola. Her second feature film, after The Virgin Suicides (1999), it stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. The film revolves around an aging actor named Bob Harris (Murray) and a recent college graduate named Charlotte (Johansson) who develop a rapport after a chance meeting in a Tokyo hotel. The movie explores themes of loneliness, alienation, insomnia, existential ennui, and culture shock against the backdrop of a modern Japanese city.

Lost in Translation was a major critical success^[1] and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Bill Murray, and Best Director for Sofia Coppola; Coppola won for Best Original Screenplay. Scarlett Johansson won a BAFTA award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. The film was also a commercial success, grossing almost $120 million from a budget of only $4 million.

PLOT

Bob Harris (Murray), an aging American movie star, arrives in Tokyo to film an advertisement for Suntory whisky, for which he will receive $2 million. Charlotte (Johansson), a young college graduate, is left behind in her hotel room by her husband, John (Ribisi), a celebrity photographer on assignment in Tokyo. Charlotte is unsure of her future with him, as she believes he takes more interest in his celebrity models, most notably a young and popular American actress named Kelly (Faris), than he does in her. At the same time, Bob's own 25-year marriage is tired and lacking in romance as he goes through a midlife crisis.

One night, after a long photo shoot, Bob retreats to the hotel bar. Charlotte, sitting at a table with John and friends, notices Bob and has a waiter bring him a bowl of peanuts from her table. Later, Bob and Charlotte have brief encounters each night at the hotel bar, until Charlotte invites Bob to meet up with some local friends of hers. Bob accepts and arrives later at her hotel room dressed in clothes that appear to be designed for a younger generation. Meanwhile, the two begin a friendship and bond through their adventures in Tokyo together while experiencing the differences between Japanese and American culture, and between their own generations.

On the penultimate night of his stay, Bob attracts the attention of the resident vocalist. The next morning, Bob awakens to find the woman in his room, having apparently slept with her. Charlotte arrives at his room to go out for breakfast only to find the woman in his room, leading to conflict and tension over a subsequent lunch. Later that night, during a fire alarm at the hotel, Bob and Charlotte reconcile and express how they will miss each other as they make one more trip back to the hotel bar.

On the following morning, Bob is set for his departure back to the United States. He tells Charlotte goodbye at the hotel lobby shortly before checking out and sadly watches her retreat back to an elevator. While riding in a limousine to the airport, Bob sees Charlotte on a crowded street and he gets out and goes to her. Bob embraces Charlotte and whispers something (substantially inaudible to the audience) in the tearful Charlotte's ear. The two share a kiss, say goodbye and Bob departs.

I borrowed this film from my Language School Library, Juanma had said to me that it was a good film, and I liked it a lot.

Anina 

 

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Bob Harris, un actor norteamericano en decadencia, acepta una oferta para hacer un anuncio de whisky japonés en Tokio. Está atravesando una aguda crisis y pasa gran parte del tiempo libre en el bar del hotel. Y, precisamente allí, conoce a Charlotte, una joven casada con un fotógrafo que ha ido a Tokio a hacer un reportaje; pero mientras él trabaja, su mujer se aburre mortalmente. Además del aturdimiento que les producen las imágenes y los sonidos de la inmensa ciudad, Bob y Charlotte comparten también el vacío de sus vidas. Poco a poco se hacen amigos y, a medida que exploran la ciudad juntos, empiezan a preguntarse si su amistad podría transformarse en algo más. (FILMAFFINITY)

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"Uno de los ejemplos más puros y simples, que jamás se haya visto, de lo que es un director/a enamorándose de lo que le están ofreciendo sus actores. (...) Murray entrega una interpretación tan real y sin esfuerzo que fácilmente podría confundirse con no actuar en absoluto." (Elvis Mitchell: The New York Times)
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"Consigue algo exquisitamente humano, tan humano que incluso las estrellas de cine lo sienten." (Stephen Hunter: The Washington Post)
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"Dos maravillosas interpretaciones. Bill Murray nunca estuvo mejor. (...) En fin, que me encanta esta película. Me encanta el modo en que Coppola y sus actores negocian el riesgo del romance y la comedia, tomando lo poco que necesitan y dejando el resto a la veracidad de los personajes." (Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times)
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"Descolocados de sus países de origen y de sus vidas pasadas, Bob y Charlotte vienen a establecer un lenguaje propio. Coppola ha hecho lo mismo, probando que puede presumir de tener una de las voces más auténticamente diferentes del cine actual." (Mark Caro: Chicago Tribune)
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"Deliciosa película. (...) Todo resulta divertido, irónico y humano en esta película inteligente y fresca." (Carlos Boyero: Diario El Mundo)
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"Film deslumbrante (...) comedia vivificadora, de gran vuelo lírico y poderoso calado irónico. (...) El choque de rostros entre Bill y Scarlett es una delicia de pura seda y pura inteligencia." (Ángel Fdez. Santos: Diario El País)
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"Parece banal decir que se agotan los adjetivos al hablar de 'Lost in Translation' pero es la verdad: es punzante y profunda, también divertida e irónica." (Toni García: Cinemanía)
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Juanma me había hablado de esta película, así que la tomé prestada de la Biblioteca de la Escuela de Idiomas, es bastante difícil de entender, así que la vi con subtítulos en español, pero me gustó mucho, es diferente.

Anina