Lost in Translation

[helenic]

I'd heard about this film, of course, for months - the consensus seemed to be that it was very good, although I can't actually remember what anyone said about it. It was quirky, my dad told me, and it didn't really have a plot, but he liked it, it had affected him. We watched it curled on our new white sofa swigging Stoli out of a single icy glass, passing it back and forth between us.

How can I describe this film? It's a sketch, it's Lamb's Fear of Fours translated into cheekbones and cityscapes and cigarettes. The script is minimalist, consisting mostly of the word "okay", as far as I remember, and yet strangely moving: there are lines that stay with you. Charlotte: "I guess every girl goes through a photography phase. You know, horses... taking pictures of your feet... " Scarlet Johanssen gives an intelligent performance, as well as having one of the cutest bottoms in cinema, and Bill Murray, whom I'm not usually a fan of, is at his best - glum, ironic, and very genuine. The quality of their relationship is fascinating. Is there a real romantic interest there? Or is it just that they're the only people in that city they have any rapport with at all? (I'm always intrigued by intense, not-quite-sexual friendships over big age gaps; it was one of the things I loved about Ladies in Lavender, which I saw before Christmas, when Ursula sat by the sea with Andre, and he leaned against her knee, and, hesitantly, not quite daring to betray the true depth of her feelings, she allowed herself to gently stroke his hair. That tension.)

It's an extremely pretty film, and that's at least half the reason I like it - I covet those flowers, her pink wig, the bamboo cups they drink wine from - but it also seemed to be saying the same things I've been trying to say for years. About the mystery of communication, that moment where an intimacy flares between the worlds of two separate people, creates a spark. Bob and Charlotte's conversations throughout are halting, hesitant, nervous: they're both speaking English in the middle of Tokyo, but they're still not quite speaking the same language. (And oh, the title is a pun on so many levels.) And yet, there's that connection. In a way the communication that's illustrated between them isn't about what they're saying at all; it's something deeper than that, more inexplicable.

And then there are those long, wordless scenes, following each of them as they explore Tokyo, their wondering reactions to things. Is it about Japan - the landscape, the beautifully observed cultural differences - or is it about what's inside your own head? Or is it about how you see the world, how your internal universe relates to the one around you? What happens when yours encounters the universes of others, whether they collide or miss each other completely or manage, tentatively reaching-out feelers to each other, to communicate. Is it about how the world gets lost in translation as we perceive it? Or is this not the intention of the film-makers at all, but what's in my own head, what I'm bringing to it? Was what they were trying to say lost in translation, overwhelmed by my own themes and preoccupations...?

I was looking for an aesthetically pleasing screenshot to post in order to give you those of you who haven't seen it some sort of visual feel for the film. Those evocative, pale-lit shots of hotel rooms: Charlotte sprawled across white duvets; sitting, hands wrapped around knees, watching the cityscape below her; sitting up in baths, huge headphones enfolding her, watching the city, always, through those huge fields of glass hanging over Tokyo. And the long shots of her and Bob, camera poised above them as they talk, unmoving for far longer than you expect.Those delicate pink sprays of flowers; the temple; even the karaoke room, blue-strobe-lit, curving out of the wall high above the street. These were the images that stayed with me. But a google search revealled only shots of Bob, or of the city, or of them in the bar, dark, amber-lit.

These are from the theatrical trailer: I wanted to show you those wide pale shots of her, motionless, that haunting use of colour.

Comments

[verte.livejournal.com]

That was a nice review. I wish I'd watched it again over Xmas, actually, when I had the chance.

I had a good debate with Polly's bf over whether the film was derogatory to the Japanese. He thought so, I thought not.

[nightkitchen.livejournal.com]

hey, I've had that debate in my own head. I don't think the movie represents Japanese people as people, individuals with histories and quirks, so the movie's unfair in the sense that it lumps everyone together. I can't even remember the name of Charlotte's friend. but the purpose I guess is to convey the characters' culture shock/feeling of being lost. it reminded me: I like to think I'm liberal, open-minded and worldly and ready for any different place. but who knows how I'll see things or react when I get there.

[borusa.livejournal.com]

I've had this debate too.

If it were a novel, then there would be no complaint about this, because it would be what the point of view character saw and understood (i.e. little). Why then, is a film not allowed to work with PoV as well? Why should it show a more accurate reflection of Japanese culture when that's not what the characters are seeing?

It really could have been any place at all where the characters were isolated, unable to speak to people, unable to really understand what was going on around them. Japan just happens to be (a) a place Coppola was familiar with and (b) one that works well for the purposes of the story.

[verte.livejournal.com]

Precisely. I argued that it was anything but derogatory - the characters have this chance to emerse themselves in a stunning, but alien culture, and can't reach past the surface of it - so instead reach for each other.

I remember reading this article (http://film.guardian.co.uk/features/featurepages/0,4120,1130302,00.html) and being bemused.

It also has the bonus of a phenomenal soundtrack.

[nicolasix.livejournal.com]

i think what i found difficult about it is that we're supposed to find 'the japanese' and their 'strange foreign behaviour' so hilarious. i understand that the 'culture shock' is supposed to be felt by the viewer as an echo the alienation the characters are feeling but for a film that deals so brilliantly with the subtlety of emotion, i was surprised how heavy-handedly it presented us with the 'amusing' characteristics of the society that contributed to their loneliness.

[verte.livejournal.com]

I guess I thought I was laughing more at the characters' reactions to the culture than the culture itself; I thought it was satirising the Western presentation of the Japanese (which is horrendously heavy-handed) and not the Japanese themselves.

[nicolasix.livejournal.com]

i don't know, i think it was because there were two scenes with bill murray reacting to how the japanese pronounce english words, and if the reaction was the point then why show us it twice? i think it would have been just as funny to see his poses for the camera in the scene with the photographer with a lot less of the 'oh it's funny i've got no idea who it is you want me to act like because i can't understand your english and i'm so bemused by the situation' bit preceeding it and the same goes for his reaction to being sent a prostitute he hasn't asked for who was madly enthuiastic when he was plainly disinterested.

i agree it could be a satire but i'm not so sure what her intentions would really be. because when i was laughing i was laughing either at the japanese for being 'weird' or the characters for their reactions, but i certainly wasn't made to storngly feel i should be laughing at myself. although, that's probably evidence of my insensitivity as a film-goer and of my distinct lack of intellect more than anything else.

p.s. when i was in new york last year, sofia copolla looked at me funny when i passed her on the street in SoHo so maybe i'm just biased against her personally!

[nightkitchen.livejournal.com]

i certainly wasn't made to storngly feel i should be laughing at myself

I agree with this. you've articulated the parts of the film that made me feel a bit uncomfortable. another scene that seemed close to gratuitous was the black toe meal comment Bill Murray made (black toe sushi? can't remember exactly). it seemed ad-libbed, like there hasn't been a foreign-food-is-gross-and-weird comment yet so let's throw this one out. although, on reflection, it's the sort of comment that's easy to put out and probably a stupid, common complaint, which perhaps is the point.

but, yeah, this didn't keep from really enjoying the whole thing.

[nightkitchen.livejournal.com]

that should have been a common stupid complaint. yep.

[verte.livejournal.com]

i certainly wasn't made to storngly feel i should be laughing at myself.

Hmm, yes, this was certainly true for me as well. I mean, it made me think of crap like Benny Hill taking the piss out of the Japanese, but it's certainly not that I funny. So, I don't know quite why I was laughing. I think I need to watch it a second time.

[http://users.livejournal.com/daishi_/]

I still haven't seen it. However, a lot of people who have seen it have mentioned this suble difference to me before. A lot of people tried to see the portral of the Japanese as being something the characters were "able" to show the viewer. As if the characters of perspective of their environment was being show rather than the actual environment itself.

The problem here is visualisation of this sort is reliant on the viewer thinking the same way as the producers.. a rare and sometimes impossible situation. In the long run people will always end up seeing things in their own way. Perhaps it was a little too imaginative. But having said that you have to do what you think is asthetically appeasing.

Perhaps this is a film I really should see.

[verte.livejournal.com]

you have to do what you think is asthetically appeasing.

I'm afraid I disagree with that as being a motivation for a film maker, or indeed, any artist, completely!

[http://users.livejournal.com/daishi_/]

Surely its extremely difficult to do something you don't enjoy yourself though. With a film I would find it very difficult to finish creating it if it was appeasing to my own senses. I know thats not always he facts, but most directors do film that they have their own image for, so it must be something they generally look out for, something they can put their own visual image on to.

[borusa.livejournal.com]

If it's derogatory about anyone, it's derogatory about Westerners who can't be bothered to put the time and effort in to find out about the country they are in.

In that respect, it's no different to tourists who come here, visit the Tower, Buck House, Madam Tussauds, go and see Phantom and then go home believing they've seen England.

[libellum.livejournal.com]

thankyou :)

I have to say that the political correctness of the portrayal of the Japanese hadn't occurred to me. But then, I suppose I'm fairly familiar with the Japan manga/anime "cult", so for me it was actually refreshing for a more mundane/satirical view of the style that seems to be so popular (like the talk show). I'm watching the debate in the comments with fascination. I think it is a slightly derogatory portrayal, but I don't think that's the a huge crime in terms of cinema, and it doesn't diminish any of the things I liked about it.

[nicolasix.livejournal.com]

i agree that whatever i think about how the japanese are presented, none of it detracted from the film for me - it's still my favourite of last year and left me with a wistful longing as though i'd recalled a feeling i'd once felt and then forgotten which i could remember for weeks after i'd left the cinema. i'd been looking forward to the film's release for months (i tried to see a showing as part of a film festival in NYC but missed out on ticket) and it didn't at all disappoint.

[nightkitchen.livejournal.com]

this is a really nice review. thanks for bringing back the pleasure I felt when I first saw this movie.

have you seen In the Mood for Love? it studies some similar things: communication, beauty ... and it has an awesome soundtrack and, at the very end, a whispered secret, too.

now I'm going to listen to the soundtrack. it's been a while.

[libellum.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen In the Mood for Love, and buying the soundtrack to Lost in Translation is definitely now on my to-do list.

I've been looking on ebay and I can find neither bamboo cups nor Charlotte-style pink wig. hmph.

[surje.livejournal.com]

yes a very clear review that reflected my feelings about the film. i should persuade you to be a regular columnist on the film club journal :)

[libellum.livejournal.com]

there are columnists on the film club journal?

I like writing film reviews. Even though I haven't studied it, I've watched enough and have broad enough taste to feel reasonably competent reviewing a film in a way I wouldn't a play or a novel.

Unfortunately there's a limit to how many film clubs I can get to during term, but I'll try and make more of an effort :)

[surje.livejournal.com]

i have been commenting against film posts wherever possible with attendance lists and very cursory reviews, just so that i can go back and see what i thought about films. also, the intention was to encourage others to also post their views, and encourage discussion, but perhaps my posting reviews has had the opposite effect and turned people off! anyway, it would be great to see you at film club if you are able to make it, but if you have seen the films at other junctures please feel free to go to the date in question and reply with a quick review :)

[the-lady-lily.livejournal.com]

I adored it when I saw it - partially because I saw it on Hydra and I was feeling a little lost in translation myself... but what could have gone so terribly wrong went so terribly right. The tension in the relationship was so palbable and the ending so - empty yet right. I was nearly in tears, if I recall correctly.

[libellum.livejournal.com]

I was screaming at them at the end "exchange addresses! this doesn't have to be all! you aren't being unfaithful! argh!"

I was almost in tears at the end as well. Although I fully acknowledge that this may have been the vodka.

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you, that's what I was never able to say about the movie. =)

[libellum.livejournal.com]

glad you got as much out of it as I did :)

[maga-dogg.livejournal.com]

I thought it was, more or less, a film made by intelligent and observant people who nonetheless didn't have much in the way of ideas and fell back on Johanssen's gorgeousness rather too often; in any case, I was left utterly bewildered why anybody gave a shit about it. That said, I watched it on a plane, so a) it may have been cruelly cut, and b) I was probably more in the mood for mindless eye-candy than subtle cinematography.

[thene]

That's much how I felt. I found the fact that no one ever said anything remotely important frustratingly dull rather than artistic, and left with an overall feeling of 'meh'. (I mean, she's not that gorgeous...) Some bits made me smile, some bits showed me something about the world, but there was nothing I'd want to come back to. Oddly enough both the two people I went with really liked it, seemingly for all the same reasons I didn't much like it. Hm.

[libellum.livejournal.com]

it was very minimalist. not very much happened, it didn't have a huge amount to say. it was largely abstract; moods, environs. I can understand why that would have come across as "nothingy" if it didn't particularly resonate with you. On the other hand I'm not claiming it was the best thing ever; just that I thought what they were trying to do, and the way they were doing it, was interesting, and I think it worked.

[jacinthsong.livejournal.com]

I didn't think, at the time of watching, that it was all that wonderful; it was only once it had finished that I just wanted to watch it again and again. Need that DVD, I do. Like Yoda, I speak.

BTW, is it okay if I use one or two of those caps for icons at some point? I loved that shot of her on the stepping stones.

[libellum.livejournal.com]

since the caps were illegally got (I'm sure it's breach of copyright to use "print screen" while Quicktime is running) feel free, although you've noticed that as far as that particular shot goes, I had exactly the same idea ;)

[jacinthsong.livejournal.com]

lfnad, okay, I have now *blush*

[weaselspoon.livejournal.com]

When I first went to see this I remember there being two sets of laughter at two distinct timings. When the lights went up I realised that half the audience had been Japanese laughing at the other half of the "jokes".

I think it's a beautiful film (as if to make my vote be known).

[libellum.livejournal.com]

you mean the jokes at Westerners' expense? I'd be very happy to hear it was two-way, if only because I don't like it when films I approve of turn out to be bigoted :)

[weaselspoon.livejournal.com]

I think there's a whole other film if you understand the Japanese and not the English, let alone both.

I wouldn't say jokes at the westerners' expense, but only in the same way that I wouldn't say there are jokes at the easterners' expense.

[ickle-robot.livejournal.com]

This summarizes many of my feelings about the movie as well.. which is, by the way, one of my favorites. I could watch it over and over and still be struck by how poignant and beautiful it is.. After watching it I feel both satisfied on so many levels, but also incomplete.... but in a good way. Great review, anyways. :)