Lost in Translation

I thought Lost in Translation was an excellent film. The ending disappointed me though, as I do not like cliffhangers. In this movie, like the other 2 movies we have watched, there is ''love confusion.'' Both characters, Bob and Scarlett, seem to be suffering from bad relationships/bad marriages. Scarlett's husband is a photographer who seems to spend more time doing things with his work and his friends than with his wife; this is something that affects Scarlett negatively. Scarlett (before meeting Bob) really had no one to talk to about it. Her mother on the phone was barely willing to listen and she obviously never raised the subject with her husband either. This may have been out of fear of his reaction. Thus, she tends to take on a submissive role with men. When meeting Bob, she begins to experiment a little bit more with the other side of her life (as does Ada in The Piano and Alex in Laurel Canyon.)

Bob Harris is an old movie star who is doing a commercial in Tokyo. He also has love-life problems as it seems his marriage is falling apart (which is more than likely his fault, we get this hint in the beginning of the movie when he receives a note saying he forgot his sons birthday.) Bob also has no one to talk to about it, as he is in a foreign city with no real friends. He meets Scarlett and they both discover they have a common ground. Like Sam in Laurel Canyon, he begins to also experiment with a different part of his life.

Both of them eventually become good friends, and we as the audience may or may not have gotten the vibe that there was some romance going on (despite the age difference.) This is further reinforced by the kissing at the end of the movie.

Although we never really know for sure what happens, we can be sure that Bob probably whispered in Scarlett's ear his address or contact info for when she goes back to the states.