Lost in Translation

[rebness]

Got around to seeing this over the weekend, mainly because American Splendour wasn't on anywhere in Manchester. Gah.

The Guardian critic, who likes about three films a year, had given it five stars, and I could see why.

The story follows two people-- one a jaded actor, one the young graduate recently married-- both feeling lost and lonely in Tokyo. The city is used to great effect, seeming surreal and remote at first, but then offering up a wealth of experience and fun when they start to explore it together.

Nothing as obvious as a romance happens-- instead, a glimpse is offered into that sublime moment that seems to happen most when travelling; the meeting of two kindred souls.

I won't go to into what happens, but the film was fun and sad and beautifully-observed, without ever spilling over into the contemptible schmaltz of supposedly touching and funny films like My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

But that's a rant for another post. ;)

Comments

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Bruce said he was watching it just dreading that they'd end up sleeping together and was so relieved when they didn't. It's like...their experience was about so many other things and not everything has to be about sex.

I also really loved how they managed to get across the alienness of Japan without resorting to parody as so many times films/shows do.

Re:

[rebness.livejournal.com]

It's like...their experience was about so many other things and not everything has to be about sex.

Precisely. I haven't seen such a quiet and intelligent movie for ages.

Japan came across as so unique and amazing-- I so have to go there, one day. The soundtrack was brilliant, too...really evocative. Am dying to get hold of it.