A heartwarming journey through Tokyo

Rating: 9/10 (19 April 2014)

After a recent stint of horror films, 'Lost In Translation' was a delightful retreat from the bleakness of the dark recesses of the human mind as it explored the budding relationship between two strangers in Tokyo. With both of our main characters being at a standstill within their respective careers, it seems as though they are also in limbo between their past lifestyle and the ones that they would ideally like to lead.
With the large age gap between Bob (Bill Murray) and the beautiful Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), poor acting could have easily been the downfall of the film. Regardless, Murray exudes his trademark charm flawlessly as you witness the budding relationship between the drifters. Without, the movie could have had an entirely different feeling as the wrong male lead could have come across as creepy or inappropriate.
As you study how these characters are, you notice how bewildered they both seem by the overwhelming diversity of Japanese culture. The neglect they experience in various forms is perhaps enhanced by their isolation because of their lack of knowledge on the culture that they were immersed in. However, they find solace in each others company and this is when they dive in to the Japanese lifestyle and just embrace it.
Life is fleeting; Sofia Coppola captures this message perfectly. It may seem clichéd but Bob and Charlotte spend all the of their time together just simply living. Their flair for life is infectious. It gives this wonderful sense of adventure and wanderlust, to explore everything the world has to offer with the most wonderful company. A truly beautiful, heartfelt film that is exceptional due to the strong performances of the leads.