A beautiful film about genuine human connection

Rating: 10/10 (15 February 2015)

There are times when the nature of a film demands that it be deeply analyzed and examined for thematic meaning, and then there are times when a film simply is what it is. Lost in Translation is a beautiful example of the latter. It's about people who are lost, lonely, misunderstood, and isolated in society, longing for a genuine human connection. It's a silent critique of the kind of society we live in, which has a way of crushing people's spirits by emphasizing values that push us away from other people and into ourselves, and Sofia Coppola's film sets about reversing that impulse. Bill Murray plays Bob, a famous actor who's lost touch with his sense of purpose and become aware with how ridiculous a lot of the entertainment industry is, and Charlotte, a young woman who is left alone and made to feel like baggage on her husband's business trip in Tokyo. The two meet, begin a friendship, and ultimately forge a connection. Despite being in very different stages of life, they find themselves together in Tokyo, and they re-connect with humanity in the process.