A Movie For Our Times

Rating: 10/10 (16 September 2004)

First of all, I found the movie to be very entertaining. I love the cinematography, dialogue, acting, characters, and especially the scenes of Tokyo. By just watching this movie I now have a strong desire to visit Japan. And of course I thought the soundtrack was absolute perfection...My Bloody Valentine, Phoenix, Jesus and Mary Chain...awesome stuff.
My second reason is that I found the central theme of the movie to be a very truthful representation of many people living in our time. I believe that the main characters being in a foreign country with a foreign language was a way of showing that they felt like foreigners in general. They didn't understand why they were alive. They were looking for answers but not really doing a great job of it. They are not heroes. They are regular people struggling to understand their place in the world. The fact that they are trying at all to find the answers is encouraging to me. Most films do not even bring up the question of our purpose in living. "Lost in Translation" asks the big questions. In that way I would compare it to "Magnolia", "The Thin Red Line" and "Adaptation".
Of course the film also takes a close look at marriage and romance. We see the obvious mistakes that they both make (especially Bill Murray's character). Because the movie does not present them as examples I am not bothered by this. When he sleeps with the singer the casual sex is in no way presented as a positive. The movie both shows him as feeling ashamed and just plain stupid. The innocence of Scarlett Johansen's character only brings this feeling out even more strongly in him.
The fact that the two never actually have any sexual encounter also shows that their relationship is not limited to romance. This makes the movie totally outside of the norm in most Hollywood films. Usually sexual desire is something you automatically follow. "Lost in Translation" shows the negative effects of adultery. Murray and Johansen never have sex though. They are both seeking answers. They find some encouragement from each other. It seems clear to me that Johansen's character is especially encouraged to love her husband more than ever once he returns. I think she understands that neither of them are perfect and that's OK. Even Bill Murray's character seems inspired to go on with life through his experiences in Tokyo.
I could go on even further with this movie. I could talk about Scarlett Johansen's longing to be loved and admired for her beauty (her karaoke song is just one example of this). I don't think that is a wrong desire either. Bill Murray has the desire to teach, to share, and to laugh. The key to the movie is both are seekers, not examples. If you look at the movie that way there is a power just because they are seeking and don't look for the answers in having sex with each other or some superficial answer like that. "Lost in Translation" asks the big question about why we are alive. What is our purpose? The movie doesn't completely answer the question but it gets the viewer going in the right direction.
There is no clear cut answer at the end of the film. But that is because people in general don't know the answer to the question. The movie is about seeking the truth. And I love it!