Job Discussion Forums

[Mark-O]

I just wondered what your take, as an expat, is on that recent multi-award winning movie 'Lost in Translation'. Directed by Sofia Coppola and starring Bill Murray, it's a take on the culture shock of a gaijin (Murray) coming to Japan with an underlying love story, I believe.

I haven't seen it, but have been put off by some of the things I have read about it. Apparently, it really flogs the racial stereotype of the japanese and for that matter can be pretty offensive.

If anyone has seen it then I'd like to hear your views ... thanks.

[chixdiggit]

Fantastic performances by Murray and Johannson. Which sterotypes are you referring to? Any movie set in Japan will be thought of differently by those of us residing here, or those of us who have in the past. The director, for one, loves Japan and its culture. This affinity clearly shines through in various scenes like the Kyoto shrine visits etc.. I think the most blatant sterotype exhibited was that of American actors prostituting themselves for Japanese products through commercials. Regardless, my advice is see the movie and decide for yourself. If nothing else, Bill Murray's performance is stellar, even worthy of the Oscar. I think it opens here is a couple of weeks.
Cheers,
Chix

[Billy Chaka]

I must say that as a former and future expat to Japan that I totally agree with chixdiggit. There are a few shots taken at Japanese pronunciation of English, but I thought they were all in good fun. Best not to take them too seriously. I especially loved the ending to this movie, when Bill Murry whispers something into Scarlett Johannson's ear, but we (the audience) can't hear it. As one review that I read said, "It was none of our business."

[Speed]

If you're in the States (outside Japan) go see the movie Marc-O. No offence but this is like having a discussion about a book you've never read. (I apologise if you're in Japan since it hasn't been released here yet). Although you may be familiar w/ the Japanese/gaijin stereotypes perpetrated in this movie.

I found the portrayals of most of the characters in this movie to be quite on the money. There wasn't scene or a character that made me feel as if it didn't fit in Japan. Although the call-girl scene was a bit lame/over the top. I've had much better .

I'd be interested on your take, once you see the movie.

[foster]

As a former Japan exapt, I thought the movie was brilliant. A friend who has never lived abroad saw it and was not a blown away by it.

The Stereotypes do seem to be more directed at the Westerners. I got awfully sick of seeing Ewan McGregor whoring himself for one of the Big-4 schools on the trains in Osaka.

Murray was brilliant and Scarlett is lovely. They played their roles very well. I was laughing my butt off during parts of the movie when no one else was laughing, since it was parts when people may have thought it was shocking that this happens (the man reading the porn cartoon on the train), but alas, I know it is a daily occurance.

It made me miss Japan.

[Laura C]

I saw the film on Saturday with my boyfriend -- I've been to Japan, he hasn't. He enjoyed the film and I did to a large extent -- it was great to see Tokyo again -- but I did feel that it patronised the Japanese a bit. I don't have any issue with things like the stereotype about, for example, mixing up l and r, because that does happen -- but I thought that the tone of the film was a bit superior, like us clever westerners and those funny Asians with their funny ways. The Bill Murray character was pretty obnoxious to the Japanese people looking after him, and the audience were encouraged to find this funny. The scene where he was shooting the commercial really made fun of the Japanese and let the audience side with his character's rudeness.

Yes, there is some affection evident from the director, such as in the Kyoto scene, but there is also a superior attitude as well I think.

L

[Mark-O]

Speed, I appreciate your point towards explaining a book. I haven't lived in Japan but have spent time there and have close relatives who live over there - I've had a small taste of what it's like.

My concern, and hence why I haven't yet seen it, stems from the apparent views of people like Laura C above. I am fascinated and in many ways quite fanatical about Japanese culture and people, and to see both cruelly parodied in an american movie would be enough to make me save my money and stay at home.

When it comes down to it I will have to go and watch it myself, but I was just curious what the expat take would be on it as they'd watch it with a pretty exclusive perspective.

Thanks for all of your comments so far.

[Brooks]

this Japanese reviewer didn`t like the film:

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=comment&id=546

[Billy Chaka]

[Billy Chaka]

[chixdiggit]

To a jet-lagged washed up actor whose career is in obvious trouble, I think his character would have been obnoxious no matter what country he was in. In the Suntory commercial scene, especially, Coppola was illustrating what lows he had sunk to professionally. Incidentally, after watching the DVD extras, including the making of the film, that scene, a well as every other, were directed by Miss Coppola AND Japanese assistant directors. In fact, every idea she had was run by her ample Japanese staff whose job it was to create a realistic cultural situation. As for the "funny" Asian sterotype, the movie is from the perspective of two Americans spending a week in Japan in a posh American hotel.Their perspective would be, undoubtedly, different, or even funny. This movie was NOT made for us Expats who live, work and breathe Japan and its culture. Furthermore, if you actually understood the Japanese spoken in the film, the subtitles actually toned it down to make it seem more polite than it actually was at times. This movie is not even about Japan, it's about two messed up people in an unfamiliar(even funny) environment who take temporary solace in each other's company. It's a brilliant film with fantastic performances so get off your high horses and take it for what it is.

By the way, my friend Yuko enjoyed it immensely but thought it wasn't very realistic at times. Why? Because the Japanese were acting so "normal" around Bill Murray, instead of going crazy and mobbing him and saying more silly things.

Cheers,
Chix.

[chixdiggit]

By the way, for all of you who follow Brooks' link to the review, make sure you continue scrolling down to read the responses to said review.

[Laura C]

Chixdiggit,

I was reading your post, scrolling down and thinking things like 'Yep, fair enough point'; 'Oh, that's an interesting perspective I didn't think of' and how it was interesting that people could see things in different ways. I was enjoying reading your views. Then I got to 'get off your high horses and take it for what it is'. Totally unnecessary. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. You say that the film is fantastic - I don't agree. I think it's pretty good, but not great. But there is no need to question peoples' judgement because they don't agree with your views on a film.

Mark-O -- do go and see the film. It's not cruel at all -- I just found it a little patronising in some places.

Enjoy!

L

[chixdiggit]

IMHO Lost in Translation isn't patronising, however the following post may be construed in such a manner. This is a discussion forum n'est-ce pas?

dis�cus�sion
Pronunciation: di-'sk&-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : consideration of a question in open and usually informal debate

fo�rum
Pronunciation: 'fOr-&m, 'for-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural forums also fo�ra /-&/
Etymology: Latin; akin to Latin foris outside, fores door -- more at DOOR
1 a medium (as a newspaper or website) of open discussion or expression of ideas


We both considered Mark-O's question and then proceeded to debate informally on a website forum where people express their ideas and opinions. If we didn't question each other's ideas and opinions we would never learn anything from this DISCUSSION FORUM. Instead of making general statements like "a little patronising" and " the tone of the film was a bit superior". Tell us why exactly you feel that way and then maybe I'll understand your view better(as Glenski would say," give us some details!). I might even agree! BTW, sorry you felt my high horses comment was aimed at you. In fact it was for tout le monde, just trying to get people to watch it is all. After all, it is just a movie. Not a cross-cultural study like Billy Chaka said. Incidentally, Mlle Laura C, how long did you spend in Japan? If it was any significant period of time, I'm curious as to how you feel about all the HENNA-GAIJIN sterotyoes perpetuated daily in this country?

Regardless,
Bonne journee,
Chix.


Mon dieu - que pourrait dire Sartre?

[Laura C]

chixdiggit,

I didn't feel that the 'high horses' comment was aimed at me. Nor did I say that in my post. I said that it was a pity that people couldn't have a DISCUSSION about a film without their attitudes being questioned if they disagreed with a particular view. Of course we can talk about and disagree on a film -- that was what my post said. I also said that I found your comments interesting as they provided a fresh perspective on the film for me -- what a DISCUSSION FORUM provides, I believe...

What I was disappointed in was finding hostility aimed at people who disagreed with someone's viewpoint, rather than a mature reasoning of why that someone thought the other person was wrong. Not the ethos of a DISCUSSION FORUM I would have thought.

L