We find a film with such inner meaning and depth that it moves us to understanding the characters through its own filmmaking style.

Rating: 10/10 (22 December 2003)

`Lost In Translation' is a film that explores loneliness in a rather unconventional way-between a middle-aged man and a girl nearly 25 years younger. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson play the principal characters, respectively. Their performances are outstanding; as is the direction from Sofia Coppola (`The Virgin Suicides'), who also wrote the screenplay.	`Lost In Translation' tells the story of Bob (Murray) and Charlotte (Johansson). Bob is a struggling actor who ends up in Tokyo, Japan to do a liquor commercial. Charlotte is fresh out of college, following her husband, a photographer, to Tokyo. The two meet in the hotel where they are staying, late at night in a bar. Neither can sleep and both feel a deep sense of abandonment. Bob's marriage is on the rocks and every time he calls his wife for support, she gives him the cold shoulder. Charlotte's problem rests partially with her husband John (Giovanni Ribisi), as well. John is constantly busy with work and does not spend much time with his wife. He urges Charlotte to go out into the city and enjoy herself. But she can barely speak the language and has no one to spend time with. So she stays in her hotel room looking out on a large city, filled with peoplebut with no one for her.	When Bob and Charlotte start hanging out, they develop a close friendship. They make their greatest connection while watching TV one night. Bob explains the problems with his wife, and brings up the subject about his children. He feels that having children has completely ended his life. However, he cannot deny that they are the most beautiful things that have ever happened to him. Charlotte goes on to explain her disillusionment with life-in particular that she was a philosophy major and has not found her niche in the world yet. Bob goes on to tell her, `You'll figure that out. The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.' It is a simple analogy, but ever so accurate.
Is there love between the two? Yes and no. Director Coppola explores their friendship and chooses not to focus on the clichés of a love story. If there is love, it is not based on a simple infatuation from good looks or sexual want. Rather, it would be based on a deep understanding of each other and the respect that accompanies it. In that respect, an emotional love does exist.	Many of the film's crucial conversations between Bob and Charlotte are kept quiet. We are not sure specifically what the two are telling each other-it could be sexual, or it could be plans the two are making that they want to keep secret. The reason that Coppola chose to write and direct the film in this way is that she does not want the audience to focus on the love aspect of the characters. Rather, the film wants us to focus on the unique friendship between these very different, but very much alike people.
Also, the film has a great deal of music, but not a score as most films utilize. Without musical score, a film can lack feeling and depth. That is exactly what Coppola wanted here. Without music, the audience feels isolated from emotion as the characters do in the film. Therefore, the audience can relate more to them.	In the end, we find a film with such inner meaning and depth that it moves us to understanding the characters through its own filmmaking style. ****