The most touching & meaningful story of relationship ever

Rating: 9/10 (26 September 2010)

I found this film to be completely true (in the 'keep it real' sense), absorbing, thought provoking and really touching that I find myself with a real urge to write a review, not because I feel like it but to reciprocate in a small way the way this film has contributed to my enjoyment of cinema in general.
It tells a story about two souls who, despite having talents (one is a movie star & the other is philosophy student from Yale), relationship (both married) and surrounded by people they find themselves lonely and melancholy but not because they are in a foreign land with different language, custom & culture that they are not used to but because they find themselves in relationship which they come to realise that it will not lead to any meaningful conclusion.
Although he film is set in Tokyo, Japan this has no resembles to the main point of the film which is being stuck in relationship that is petty, meaningless and uneventful. Sophia, the director, or the film is not trying to prove any point, good or bad, about the Japanese or Japanese culture but is merely using this as a backdrop.
This loneliness and detachments from people that matter in their life brings them increasingly (I must stress that this word is a crucial element of the film and I shall talk more of that later) bring these two lost souls closer together.
The two most important aspects of the film, as far I'm concerned, that I would like to elaborate about are the timing and the need to view it twice!
The movie starts with the two main characters Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) completely differently but come increasingly together which is really appreciable on second viewing. To really appreciate the movie you do need to see it twice as what might've seemed as trifle or boring routine to be an important part o the film. I would like to appeal to those who find this film boring or uneventful n the first 10-15 minutes and therefore likely give up, is that please try to persevere with this film as I'm sure that by the end of the film you will see that it was worth it.
The film starts with the two shot individually for some time before they come in to contact where only one is cognisant of the other, second time they both acknowledges but don't speak, third time they speak but ever so briefly etc. It is about forming a relationship (ill defined though it might be) of two people of different age (23 v. 55 in my opinion) with increasing understanding, appreciation and love. The main point of this film was that these two people have complete and mutual understanding of each other and find Zen in each other's company without having to have falling in to love head over heels or having physical relationship.
The film has music that is tune with the main theme of the film and it has a great, albeit an inclusive ending which like the ending of Planet of the Apes makes the whole film rewind in your memory. This one of my top 5 and if its not on your list then I urge you to see it again.