Lost in Translation

First time watching this movie I feel this did the form of attraction in a way I have never seen before. In the moments of act 1 we get to know our characters before the event obviously but not in the way that is backstory or problem. The problem is right there in front of you their loneliness to the otherwise very active and vibrant city that is Tokyo. A city in which excess of material overflows. These characters suffer from the one thing that city can’t bring a salvation to their loneliness the need for a feeling of something mote fulfilling to the soul. We see these moments of insomnia and contemplation where its through the reflection of glass or simply the character staring out a window or practically doing nothing at all their unsatisfying relationships and disliking of the city has them in a rut. Until they meet each other and its a small conversation but you see very small affections but even when they truly get to know each other it’s a connection that unlike a lot of romantic films. There’s not big gestures parties, getting dressed up or anything of the matter in excess material its simple connection just talking and experience life for what it is apart from the over saturation of man made creations. Which Coppola shows through the many scenes of the arcade people playing not necessarily branching out further than that. To the juxtaposition of the temples and the monks and the flower arranging so away from the technology and distractions its a true position on the culture of Japan close to becoming a technocracy. Im a big fan of how we remove the male gaze from this movie making it a feminine one. In the starting scene she is in her underwear which is quite transparent and the camera sits there focused on her lower half lying down. But the camera sits there long enough to make us uncomfortable if you sexualized her lower half it would quickly become a desexualization and that uncomfortable feeling of looking too long turns into a comfortable feeling just as we are laying down in our underwear simply sleeping. Throughout the entire film its not a sexualization of characters or any big flashy things happening between the characters not even a consummation between the love interests. In fact when Bill Murray sleeps with the singer the most biggest protruding thing wasn’t jealousy but betrayal. Its small connecting affections away from the over saturation of male gaze cinema and romantic comedies. All and all its a beautiful film to watch through each shot feels like you’re in an art gallery. Or looking through the characters eyes on how they see Japan and its culture. Absolutely love this film.