Lost in Translation

The film ended and left me with mixed a feeling of utter bliss and sadness at the same time. Sofia Coppola tells this story from Japan very slowly, brilliantly portraying the atmosphere of a country that is linguistically and culturally very different. Two "lost" people meet in a hotel, feeling lonely and in need of communication, of listening to each other. They feel affection for each other and they both play it well, especially Bill Murray, whose performance is enhanced by the fact that his role is so different from any of his previous ones. You won't see any passionate kisses or tears running down faces, yet, or maybe that's why the two of them have an unusual spark. You won't laugh much, nor will you feel emotionally blackmailed, this film is neither a romance nor a comedy. Genre-wise, it's impossible to classify and the most appropriate simile I can think of is that it's just a beautiful film. A beautiful intimate story of two people, sometimes underlined by sad ambient music. Sofia Coppola's relationship with her famous father proves that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. After the second viewing, I literally fell in love with this film. (30/01/2004)

There are not many cases when I empathized so much with the feelings of the heroes. Feelings of emptiness, loneliness, sadness, fear, warmth, and love. Bill Murray's mournful gaze has imprinted on me forever, as well as Scarlett Johansson's gentle face. Beauty that, when in the right mood, equals an absolute experience. (27/10/2005)

A very nice film. Gentle. And the characters in it don't act like they always do, but become people, real people. I was drawn into their midst. I didn't want to be a bystander. I wanted to walk around Tokyo. A city I long to visit. For all that, I'm simply forced to give it full stars. I just want to, and that's it. Because this film is first and foremost “human". All I can do is recommend it for viewing. (07/03/2009)

A beautifully fragile narrative about sharing loneliness, uprootedness and existential uncertainty in the midst of excessive affluence. Lost in Translation is a film about superficiality that lets us look beneath the surface and discover beauty there. It is also two hours in the company of someone you laugh at a little at the beginning and who by the end you feel will always be a part of your life, even if you never see them again. (17/09/2022)

A very nice story. Amazing acting (Bill Murray gives the performance of his life). If your mood was hovering around freezing point before seeing Lost in Translation, afterward you’ll be at pleasant room temperature. It’s the kind of movie that puts you in a good mood and makes for a better day. You’ll probably also have a sudden urge to fly to Tokyo to play a round of golf. At least I did. ;-) (09/10/2007)