VIP Class Notes (Jesse)

Lost in Translation tells the story of Bob Harris, an American movie star that comes to Tokyo to film a whiskey commerical for which he will be paid 2 million bucks. Staying in the same Tokyo hotel is Charlotte (Scarlett Johanssen, radiant and mature at only 18), a newlywed tagging along with her rock photographer husband, John (a typically awkward Giovanni Ribisi). Along the way, Charlotte and Bob run into each other and begin a ‘brief encounter’ that profoundly affects them both. When the movie hits you right, it’s a pure pleasure from its unassuming start to its ambiguous but meaningful ending. It begins as a comedy of culture clash, Harris sarcastic and confused at the Japanese when entering his hotel, and even more befuddled in a hilarious scene where he shoots the whiskey commerical. Scarlett Johanssen plays Charlotte with just the right amount of emotion that her initially morose and soul-searching character doesn’t seem silly. At one point, she tearfully admits over the phone, “I don’t know who I married.” This may come off as silly, but consider her position: far away from home, newly married, in a big intimidating city, and her husband is away on a photo shoot. Bob has an unsatisfying home life where his wife Lydia follows him wherever he goes – in the form of messages and faxes – for him to deal with the minutiae of their everyday lives, while she stays at home to look after their kids. For the first third of the movie, director Coppola displays her first brave choice in film-making by keeping Bob and Charlotte apart. A few times, though, Bob and Charlotte do see each other without officially meeting. One time in particular occurs in a crowded elevator – the two glance at each other, faintly smile, and possibility is born. The first section of the film doesn’t just serve to show its two characters completely apart – it makes you think of how many life-changing connections you’ve missed in the past by just being passive and solitary. Coppola successfully juggles Bob and Charlotte apart, but when they do meet, it’s pure magic. They begin voyages out into the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, and the film almost takes on a perspective that differs from its earlier view. Before, we saw Bob Harris and Charlotte, respectively, at their most private and vulnerable. While out on the town, the film seems to sit back and just let them have fun. During this time, it seems that Bob and Charlotte have forgotten their insomnia and loneliness, but it’s not gone forever. Even during their night on the town, we see moments where they sit silently, pensive and confused. Well, they had fun but only in the sense of putting off more loneliness and desperation. The movie takes a while to truly glean out the deep-seated motivations of both of its characters, but they become fully-realized in a marvelous scene where Bob and Charlotte lay fully-clothed in bed together. Here, they handle the ‘big’ questions in life, and not “Where did you go to college?” or “What did you want to be when you were little?” but “What is my purpose?” and “Does marriage get easier?” Bob relates to Charlotte the experience of having children and the ongoing struggles of marriage, but a tinge of fear and apprehension runs through his speech. Charlotte hasn’t really figured things out for herself yet – she says she’s tried just about everything but hasn’t found that niche. Coppola’s screenplay takes these two separate beings, far apart in age and experiences, and makes a profound statement – both are in the same exact emotional limbo. Charlotte is confused and worried, but Bob is regretful and washed-up. In a way, these two are some form of deeply odd soul-mates. That is the heart and soul of Coppola’s amazing work.

befuddled – confusing

solitary – like to be alone
eg. some people like to live solitary lives

pensive – thinking deeply and worried

insomnia – a disorder that affects sleep
eg. I have insomnia so sometimes I’m over-tired during the day

deep-seated – a problem that is very deep in your emotions / personality
eg. some people have deep seated issues that come from their childhood

tinge – a very small / hint of sth
eg. this coffee has a tinge of alcohol

minutiae – small and dull details
eg. the minutiae of my life is not something I want to talk about

niche – sth that applies to a very small / limited group of people
eg. audio engineering is very niche

washed-up – old and not successful anymore