Today, as I got nothing much to do at work, I thought that I can maybe watch a movie. By the way, there are lots of movies that I want to watch and are saved on my google watchlist, but haven’t watch due to not having the time. This time, I chose to watch Lost in Translation, a movie I have been planning to watch. The reason why I am planning to watch the movie is because it takes place in Japan, which is one of my favorite places.
As for the plot, it revolves around a middle-aged movie star named Bob, who travels to Tokyo to be an appearance in a whisky advertisement. While filming for the advertisement, he has difficulties communicating with the director because he doesn’t know Japanese and the director speaks too fast. Also adding to that confusion is that the translator only provides brief summary in English.
During his time in Tokyo, he was miserable because of having a mid life crisis and a relationship problem. He stayed at upscale Park Hyatt Hotel, where he met another disenchanted American woman named Charlotte, and a fresh graduate.
During his stay, Charlotte got the chance to try out ikebana, which is the Japanese custom of flower arranging. She also exchanges with Bob at the hotel bar. While her husband John got assignments outside Tokyo, she also invited Bob to a karaoke session one evening to meet some local friends. After that, the two exchanged an intimate conversation regarding Charlotte’s life back at the hotel while drinking sake and watching TV.
The next day, Bob and Charlotte went to a sukiyaki restaurant in Omotedando. They did not enjoy the lunch and complained because “what kind of restaurant makes their customers cook their own food” due to not having any clue.
The following day, Charlotte went on a spiritual trip to Kyoto via Shinkansen and visited Heian-jingu and Nansen-ji.
On the last day, when Bob is on the way to the airport from the hotel, he saw Charlotte on a crowded street. He asked the taxi driver to stop the car so that he can say his final goodbye to her before departing.
Hospital Scene: When Bob took Charlotte to the hospital for her broken toe, Bob tries to communicate to the front desk but are unable to understand due to language barrier. While waiting, Bob tries to communicate with an elderly Japanese man but also to no avail due to language barriers.
Bob’s advertisement appeared on a truck. It reads 古い友と、大切なひととき、サントリータイム, which means “with an old friend for a special moment, make it Suntory time”, unlike the previous “for relaxing times make it Suntory time” during filming
In conclusion, the movie is about two individuals who feel lost because of cultural barriers and cultural shocks. They includes the language barriers, neon-lit environment of Tokyo, the serene Kyoto environment, Japanese accent in English pronunciations (where the escort that was sent to Bob’s room demands that he “lip her stockings”, where she actually meant “lick my stockings”), bowing, and private rooms in Karaoke instead of public performances.
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