Job Discussion Forums

khmerhit · Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2003 12:14 am Post subject: Lost in Translation

Lost in Translation--- Has anyone yet seen this much-touted film by Sophia Coppola and starring the deadpan satyr Bill Murray? I ask in this forum because, although it is set in Japan, its themes are pertinent to ESL people everywhere.

http://www.google.ca/search?q=cache:mg3_suz9lEsJ:movies.yahoo.com/movies/feature/lostintranslation.html+lost+in+translation+murray&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

woza17 · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 602 Location: china

Is that his daughter that was in Godfather 3 and was so bad, has she turned to directing . Good move if she has. No' I haven't seen it> Is it recent.
Cheers Carol

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

Viewed the trailer and had a feeling it will lack storyline and possibly only be of interest (read probable curiosity) to those with experience of Japan.

Hope it won't be but that's the impression the trailer gave me. I won't be shelling out Y1000 to see it though. I think I can force myself to wait for the DVD. Wink

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

Carol,

That is indeed Francis' daughter. She has only directed one other movie, "the Virgin Suicides." In the critics' minds she is becoming a highly acclaimed director. We'll see. No Godfather 4 please.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Did you know Francis' sister also played Michael Corleone's sister (forget her name), and his Dad wrote the score for many of the scenes and played a small part. A nice family movie.

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

I just saw this movie. I didn't like it. It was very depressing, the ending was really stupid (such and American-style ending). And most of all, the jokes on Japanese were so cliche. It just made me roll my eyes, "Whatever". A lot of the scenes showed a very accurate potrayal of Tokyo; however, I didn't like the potrayal of the Japanese characters. Furthermore, Mr. Bob Harris potrayed the type of Americans I can't stand. It shows how ignorant and intolerant Americans can be toward anyone/anything different.

Sadebugo · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 524

I just saw the movie last Sunday and liked it, but didn't feel as positively about it as the critics did. The storyline was weak and the play on Japanese cultural traits was a little overdone. I felt like Sofia was just retelling the kind of surface level encounters that someone like her would have in Tokyo.

I like how the poster above criticizes how the Japanese were portrayed in this movie and then goes on to violate her own rule by stereotyping Americans.

Got a bone to pick or what?

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

Yeah, I said the "type of American". That means that not all Americans are like that, but some "types" are.

We've recently had this very same discussion. I don't want to waste anymore space on the topic, but if you are interested please check out the previous thread. "Why do so many Americans know so little about the world outside"

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=5131

Sadebugo · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 524

Oh, come on!

Once again, I say that you're guilty of the same thing that you accuse Americans of being guilty of. You're stereotyping even if you used the phrase "type of Americans." Just because you didn't indict every American in the world, that doesn't excuse you.

For the record, you also wrote the phrase "such and (sp.) American-style ending" and the statement, "it shows how ignorant and intolerant Americans can be toward anyone/anything different." You didn't qualify those comments at all with 'type.' Even the title of the thread you recommended is an extreme form of stereotyping.

But, let's cut the sophistry. I will commit the act of stereotyping right now by saying there are so many people in the world (nationality indeterminate) who are simply jealous of America and Americans. This manifests itself in bashing America at every opportunity. I'm not as politically correct as you so I offer no apologies for that statement.

On an unrelated subject, what do you think about the Japanese/Korean documentaries that make fun of cultural practices in certain African countries? I just hate that type of Asian!!!

Cheers!!

J-Pop · Joined: 07 Oct 2003 Posts: 215 Location: USA

Sadebugo,
Puhleeze . . . if you have something to say, don't hold it back.
Just go ahead & say what you're thinking! Very Happy

(joke

I actually loved your post!)

PS: I haven't yet seen the movie.
First heard of it about 2-3 weeks ago. Good reviews. But I am enjoying reading the comments here, too.
Based on what I heard, it seems there is some great cinematography. Thus, Tokyo being one of my favorite cities (Copenhagen in the summer & some Dutch cities are also decent), so I thought I would go see it for the pics., if nothing else.
Have a feeling it will bring back memories. Any shots of Shinjuku?

Sadebugo · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 524

Thanks for the support J-Pop! I think you'll like the movie a lot especially if you have a former connection to Japan. I was a little taken aback though by the scene where the prostitute shows up in Murray's room and another scene where he's in a strip club. Not because I felt the scenes were demeaning to Japanese culture, but because they seemed a bit forced and only in the movie for effect. My favorite part of the movie was the evolving relationship between Murray's character and the young American woman. I'm not sure if other's would agree with me on this.

As to your suggestion, I've always had a problem with expressing my true feelings. I hope my previous post wasn't too vague.

Cheers!