The USA has never really forgiven them for what happened at Pearl Harbour and their subsequent influence since WW2 on Nipponese culture has to be viewed in some ways as them getting their own back.  So it’s a shame that writer/director, Sofia Coppola’s new film does nothing to redress the balance.

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is a fading Hollywood actor who has gone to Tokyo to advertise a brand of Japanese whisky.  Somewhat bored with his work and escaping his wife and young children, he finds himself lost in a somewhat alien world until he comes across Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), wife to a busy photographer (Giovanni Ribisi) who has followed her husband along on the trip.  The duo decide to stage a prison break from their lives and have some fun, but in doing so fall in love.

The performances are top notch, particularly Murray with his wonderful sardonic wit; but the movie will do nothing for the improvement of American-Japanese diplomacy.  Coppola portrays them on the whole to be bumbling servants with pronunciation problems and only hints at the history and culture of the country.  It’s a well-made film to watch, but one almost feels embarrassed at laughing about a Japanese TV commercial director trying to say “Rat Pack” to Murray.  A good picture from an up and coming director, but surely Hollywood can do better than this when it comes to movies about the Far East.
(3½/5)

Release Date: 28 June 2004

Lost In Translation