Lost Intransigent 2

Rating: Null/10 (15 February 2004)

*Possible Spoiler*
"Lost, Intransigent Two" could be more appropriate a title for this film... I found it very boring and depressing to see two people who don't even seem to be trying to enjoy their stay in Tokyo or to learn to speak a bit of the language. Too much emphasis was put on communication breakdown and misunderstandings. At the very least they could have said hello more, however large the culture differences may be.
The whole film looked like a poorly edited home video and I didn't see much art in it (I grew up in Japan and Tokyo of course isn't exotic to me). Scenes switch rather fast without explanation, and some reviewers seem to find that fact "surrealistic" or "arty." But in my opinion, it's more of indulgent under-editing...I could walk around Tokyo with my camcorder and turn recording on and off and get a similar effect.
"Lost in Translation" is a state of mind. It's NOT about Japanese culture, but rather, it's about depression and giving up understanding. What you see on this film is Tokyo seen by depressed minds. And is that depression something good to share? I do not think so.