Message from richardrodriguez

[Anonymous]

I've had numerous debates regarding the movie Lost in Translation. Many of my Asian American friends found the movie a bit racist. They argued that Bill Murray's character was an arrogant bigot who disrespected the Japanese culture with his horrible jokes and his disregard for cultural norms and customs. They didn't buy into the scenario of two Americans in Japan connecting and conspiring against the Japanese and their version of the English language. I think they missed the point that once Murray's character let his guard down and found a second he actually did enjoy the cultural by way of running around with Charlie Brown and the gang.

A few of my friends from Japan, one guy in particular, loved the movie and thought it was a very accurate depiction of an American actor forced to makes some money in Japan via advertising. My friend made the excellent point that when foreign travelers are here in America they make many of the same jokes as a defense mechanism. It is highly stressful to be inundated with a new language and a new culture while being all alone in a foreign country. He also commented on the practice of Japanese advertisers using American faces to sell Japanese products (e.g. Brad Pitt). He raised the question that if something is equitable for all involved, then who is exploiting whom?

Personally I think the movie is a great lesson in culture shock and an excellent look at the inability of a man to deal with aging, displacement, etc. I think it is a great love story, an excellent travel log, and a wonderful way of addressing ethnocentrism and the ability to have fun and laugh at ones own culture.

As for appropriate content, I teach seniors so the rating is not necessarily relevant. There is a scene in a bar though that I would definitely fast forward through.

And finally, if not a fan of Sofia Coppola or the genre, watch the movie anyway simply for the beautiful shots of Tokyo and Kyoto in particular.