Quietly powerful

Rating: 8/10 (6 May 2019)

I know I'm late (about 16 years!), as it's 2019 and I just watched "Lost in Translation", which received plenty of praise and became almost a cult classic in the eyes of many people since its release in 2003.
Mainly set in a luxurious hotel in Tokyo, "Lost in Translation" is one of those films that slowly cruises its way to its audience's emotions, without ever waving the threat of driving it through agitated dramatic waters en route to a tragic denouement. The somewhat unusual Japanese setting is the perfect landscape for this story of two characters, both of which are quietly going through a life crisis, who each find the other's soul to be of an inexplicably comforting nature. Speaking of unusual, I truly salute the originality in the choices of characters that were made here: Bill Murray plays Bob Harris, a jaded Hollywood actor who's on a work trip to Tokyo to shoot a whiskey commercial, and Scarlett Johansson plays Charlotte, an aspiring writer who is probably barely over half Harris' age, who accompanied her husband, a professional photographer, on a work trip only to spend her days in the hotel room, alone, questioning herself about who she is while her husband is working endless hours.
Through their respective struggles, all of which are depicted with the kind of subtlety that never disrupts the tone of the film, both characters are magnetically brought to one another, despite both being married. As Harris says at some point in the film, when speaking about marriage: "you can drive it but there's still the occasional accident". "Lost in Translation" precisely depicts one of those accidents, but in a very unusual way. Actually, it does so in a very soothing way, where momentarily lost souls find meaningful comfort with one another, instead of two bodies quenching lust. This film is not about infidelity. This film is mostly about these people that life puts in your path and that change it forever, in circumstances that make it impossible for them to remain a part of it. There is a truly bittersweet feeling throughout the film to which anybody who has traveled and made significant although ephemeral encounters will be able to relate. It is hard to explain, but this film shook me more than I suspected it would.
Sofia Coppola finished the film with a (quiet) emotional bang, at least in my view, with both characters whispering in each other's ear something inaudible to the audience. It was one of those brilliant cinematic moments that elevates a film to a higher level, and allows it to stay with the viewer for a while.
The direction sets the tone perfectly, with the kind of delicacy that brings a great clash between those vibrant and colourful Japanese cities and the characters' state of mind. The film also packs great visuals and cinematography. Seeing the reflection of those endless neon lights and buildings on the window overlay a contemplative and thoughtful Charlotte sitting in the back of a taxi was a pure visual delight. The soundtrack also features a great musical selection.
Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson both do an incredible job at giving depth to their characters with even the simplest of actions, and bring life to a quite unique chemistry.
This is a comedy in many ways, but it tackles themes that would usually warrant using a dramatic tone, without ever employing it, and without ever dipping even its toes into the realm of clichés. And that, in itself, is quite admirable.