Lost in Translation (film)
"Lost in Translation" is a critically acclaimed film written and directed by Sofia Coppola, released in 2003. Set in contemporary Tokyo, the narrative delves into themes of alienation, attraction, and loneliness through the experiences of its main characters. Bill Murray stars as Bob Harris, an actor in the midst of a midlife crisis, while Scarlett Johansson plays Charlotte, who is grappling with her own marital difficulties. Their paths cross at a hotel bar, leading to a meaningful connection as they explore the city together, juxtaposing their American identities against the vibrant backdrop of Japanese culture. The film garnered significant recognition, earning four Academy Award nominations, including best picture and best director for Coppola, who became the first American woman nominated in that category. Ultimately, it won the Oscar for best original screenplay. "Lost in Translation" was both a critical and commercial success, grossing over $119 million against a modest budget of $4 million, and continues to be noted for its exploration of existential themes and the ambiguity of human relationships.
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Lost in Translation (film)
Identification: Film about a young American woman and an older American actor who meet in a Tokyo hotel and develop a relationship over several days
Director: Sofia Coppola (b. 1971)
Date: Released on October 3, 2003
Written and directed by Sofia Coppola, daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, Lost in Translation was one of the film industry’s major critical and financial successes of 2003. Set in contemporary Tokyo, the film explores themes of alienation, attraction, and loneliness. The film received four Academy Award nominations, winning for best original screenplay.
Writer and director Sofia Coppola drew inspiration for Lost in Translation from her own experiences in Tokyo. Following her 1999 film The Virgin Suicides, she stated that she wanted to make a film that was fun and romantic. She collaborated with cinematographer Lance Acord to utilize the vibrant lighting of Tokyo. When she began writing the script, she specifically wrote the part of Bob Harris, an actor going through a midlife crisis, with actor Bill Murray in mind. Coppola’s goal was to use the film to explore existential questions against the disorienting background of Tokyo.
Harris is in Tokyo to film a whiskey commercial. He is going through a midlife crisis, and his marriage of twenty-five years is falling apart. At a hotel bar, he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), who is in Tokyo after joining her photographer husband on assignment. Charlotte is also experiencing trouble in her marriage. The two soon form a bond over discussions concerning marriage, children, and the meaning of life itself. Together, they journey around Tokyo, visiting karaoke bars, pachinko parlors, and various parties. The two characters’ Americanism contrasts with the culture of Tokyo, and the nature of their relationship remains ambiguous. In the film’s iconic final scene, Harris says goodbye to Charlotte before his return to the United States, whispering something into her ear that is inaudible to the audience.
Impact
Lost in Translation received several award nominations. At the 2003 Academy Awards, it was nominated for best picture, best actor, best director, and best original screenplay. It only won the latter, but the director nomination made Coppola the first American woman to be nominated in the category. Murray won a Golden Globe Award and a British Academy of Film and Television (BAFTA) award for his role as Bob Harris. The film, which cost approximately $4 million to make, earned over $119 million at the box office.
Bibliography
King, Geoff. Lost in Translation. Edinburgh UP, 2010. Print. American Indies.
Thompson, Anne. “Tokyo Story.” Filmmaker. Filmmaker Magazine, 2012. Web. 8 Oct. 2012.