What the movie ‘Lost in translation’ has to teach on love and intimacy
Bob: I don’t want to leave.
Charlotte: So don’t. Stay here with me. We’ll start a jazz band.
I might be a bit late but I just watch Sofía Coppola’s 2003 film Lost in translation. The movie came to us after approximately 15 minutes of trying to pick something to watch on Netflix. Little did I know the 102 minutes were gonna make me reflect on love, intimacy, and life so much.
Movie plot
This movie shows the story of two Americans, both unhappy and lost with their respective life decisions. Bob, played by Bill Murray, is a middle-aged actor lost with no sense of purpose. We get the feeling that life passes by him and he plays along in order to survive. On the other hand, there is Charlotte, a young Scarlett Johansson, who doesn’t know who she is or want she wants. Like most of us, she is on a quest to find her authentic self. At different stages of life, they both feel completely alone on their journey.
During the first 30 minutes of the movie we get to know them separately, their routines at the hotel in Tokyo where they are staying, their personal situations, what they do daily, the fact that they both have trouble falling asleep, etc. One night, by chance, they met at the bar of the hotel. From this moment they begin to build their friendship up. Scene by scene they start showing affection, and the relationship blossoms- but not in an expected classical romantic way-, it goes in another direction. They become intimate in an even better way, in my opinion: walking, running away, singing, talking, joking.
The expression of love
This movie resonated with me: I am relearning what love is and what it should feel like. What makes Bob’s and Charlotte’s story good, is the simplicity of their actions and the conversations. They are going through a midlife crisis and they make each other feel safe, secure, and listened to. There is honesty in everything they share with one another. They are already too tired of having to be what is expected of them, or simply not knowing what the next step is, they create a universe where authenticity, joy, game, the mind, respect, and understanding rule.
What they built is what we all want. Don’t we all desire to share life with someone who looks at our eyes and sees our soul? Isn’t it the dream to fall in love with someone who shows us 100% who they are? And even better, allow ourselves to share with the other person who we are, our fears, our dreams, and our doubts with no sense of fear.
Spoiler: I wanted them to kiss for so long, I knew they also wanted to. But then I realized that the movie wasn’t about that. We are so used to everything being fast and physical, that, for a second, I thought that was better than finally being able to fall asleep only because the right person is next to you, and you feel safe.
Location: A key player
Lost in translation takes place in Tokyo. After reading some reviews I learned that this movie is the Director’s love letter to Japan, and also that the film only makes sense because of its location. Being in Tokyo adds up to the idea of not finding yourself. Different cultures, languages, sounds, plans, everything is new for them and this opens opportunities to connect with one another and actually see how they could become one despite all the uncertainty.
The power of human connection
Even if you are not sure of your next step, there could always be something or someone that brights up your path. This is what the movie is about: The joy of meeting someone by surprise who ends up connecting with you more than most people you have ever met, and how amazing it is that they help you bring up parts of yourself you didn’t know existed.
I love how Coppola ends the movie. They both know they can’t be together for many circumstances but they have the chance to let each other know with a significant gesture, that they are here for them. They get the closure they need and move on. This is not sad, it’s just how life has to be sometimes.
To finish, I will leave you with a mind-blowing fact:
Shawn Mendes’s Lost in Japan music video is inspired by Lost in translation.
I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you watch the movie and want to talk more about it, leave a comment below. I’m also accepting movie recommendations so I don’t waste time figuring out what to watch. Thank you!
