Lost In Translation

[foxfair]

Well I just looked for a thread and couldn't find one - I hope I didn't miss it!

Anyway. I am having a dicussion with a friend. I feel strongly that LiT's ending was not ambiguous - i.e. that Bob and Charlotte saying goodbye at the end was their real goodbye - that there was no hint that they would get together in the future - either sexually or as a couple or in any way. I don't feel that the movie works at all if there is any thought at the end of Bob and Charlotte leaving their spouses and getting together.

However, my friend feels strongly that the ending is ambiguous and is meant to give hope to the audience that B. and C. get together. He specifically cites Bob's unheard words to Charlotte that make her smile - that this is somehow Sofia Coppola indicating that they might be making plans or, making plans to make plans.

Does anybody have an opinion on this? I was astounded that some people took that ending ambiguously - I seriously don't see that film working at. all. if it wimps out on the ending I interpreted it as having...

[kostgard]

I saw it as a good-bye too - I always imagined that he whispered one last bit of advice or words of encouragement, and that's it. They both seemed to realize that their time together was temporary, even though it had a profound effect on both of them.

But that was it - Bob would go back to his wife and kids and maybe find the courage to do things in his career he would be proud of, Charlotte would go back to her husband (at least for the time being) and figure out what she wants to do with her life.

[Baby Fish Mouth]

I agree with what everyone else has posted. To me, the possibility of them getting together again (platonically or not) somehow cheapens the significance of their experience in Tokyo. Their relationship was built on the fact they were both feeling emotionally lost in both their personal lives and in a foreign country. It wouldn't have been the same if they reunited amidst familiar surroundings. I think this is exactly what the director meant to convey.

I just watched this film again a few weeks ago and was reminded of how void Scarlett Johansson is in this role. I realize her character was supposed to be somewhat empty, but I definitely think any number of starlets could have played that role just as well.

[kostgard]

To me, the possibility of them getting together again (platonically or not) somehow cheapens the significance of their experience in Tokyo. Their relationship was built on the fact they were both feeling emotionally lost in both their personal lives and in a foreign country. It wouldn't have been the same if they reunited amidst familiar surroundings. I think this is exactly what the director meant to convey.

I completely agree. If Bob went out to LA to meet up with Charlotte, the "magic" or whatever about their time in Japan would have been lost, and they probably would have seen each other much differently, and I don't think either of them wanted that.

I know a lot of people didn't like the movie because there was no plot. To me, it was more like capturing a moment in time between these two people, so nothing huge had to happen, and nothing profound had to happen to their lives once they left Tokyo. It was just a moment and a place where two people in similar emotion situations (just on different places of the timeline of their lives) found each other and made a connection.

[kelly9480]

I like the film enough to have bought it, but I can easily understand why so many of my friends hate it. I will admit that Giovanni Ribisi got on my damn nerves in the film, though. But Sofia Coppola did a good job bringing her vision to the screen. That vision didn't involve a plot, but whatever.