Lost in Translation

Lost in Translation is a movie that is about two people, Bob and Charlotte, stuck in Tokyo. I could sympathize with Bob and Charlotte being in a place where they could not communicate with basically anyone because of the language barrier. I think Sophia Coppola did a really good job showing Bob and Charlotte’s struggle to communicate with everyone in Tokyo, and hence the reason they both stayed inside the hotel for the most part when they were alone. Neither of them appears to be completely happy with their marriages, and they both are lonely in Tokyo until they meet each other. They seem to just “click” immediately. There is no small talk between the two of them and there is not much hesitation at first, although they are complete strangers to each other. It is clear that they have feelings for each other and that they both care for each other, but it is not quite clear what these feelings are. The feelings are romantic, yet because of the age difference, there is a hint of a father-daughter relationship. Charlotte struggles because her husband ignores her, and she is young and has no idea what she wants to do in life. Bob struggles because he is not happy with his marriage and family life, and now he is essentially going to Tokyo to try and prolong his career and income for a little while longer. Therefore, they have a lot in common, but they also differ in that they are at different times in their life; his is coming to an end and hers is just beginning. In this movie, Tokyo is portrayed exactly like it is in real life; loud, busy, colorful, fluorescent, and open all night. The fact that the city never sleeps caters to Bob and Charlotte, who both have trouble sleeping – yet another thing they have in common. Instead of sitting in their room, frustrated that they cannot sleep, they are able to go out and meet each other and spend time with each other. This is how their relationship starts, and they become very close in a very short amount of time.