2. `
“Break open a cherry tree
And there were no flowers
But the spring breeze
Brings forth myriad blossoms”
It is a magnificent poem by Ikkyu Sojun about gorgeous Japanese
Cherry blossoms. Up to now, Japan has been well-known for a land of
beauty of both nature and people, attracting millions of the hearts all over
the world, particularly the director Sofia Coppola. This country is a source
of great inspiration to her “Lostin Translation”, a comedy released in 2003
about two lost souls seeking the meaning oflife in Japan. The movie depicts
a couple of cultural dimensions especially Japanese value, individualism
versus collectivism and communication styles in both Japanese and North
American (The U.S) cultures.
“Lost in Translation” begins when Bob Harris (Bill Murray), a
fading, B-level American movie actor facing with his “midlife crisis”,
travels to Japan to make commercials for whiskey. Here, he meets bychance
Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a Yale recent graduate and also a young wife
of a photographer working on assignment. As living in the same hotel, they
meet during one of their midnight to share with each other their feeling of
desperate loneliness and “out of context” in Japan. The seed of their
friendship germinates day by day and becomes aperfect relationship despite
their age gap. They begin exploring foreign cultures as well as seeking the
meaning of life together. Eventually, Bob and Charlotte, however, are not
3. `
together till the last moment, either as friends or lovers becausehe suddenly
travels back to the U.S, resulting in a semi-open ending for viewers.
Intercultural value presented in “Lost in Translation” contributes to its
great prominence. That the movie was shot entirely in Japan gives audience
the opportunity to experience most marked points of value in Japanese
community. “Value” is culturally defined guiding principle or standard of
good, beautiful and desired characteristics in society (Lustig & Koester,
2010). Throughout this film, “strict hierarchy” must be the most splendid
value which is clearly proved by Japanese greeting. When arriving at the
hotel from the airport, Bob receives a warm and rapturous welcome from the
staff and a small group of his future colleagues. Not only do they offer Bob
their business cards as well as precious presents but they also greet him by
bowing, whereby the angle of inclination illustrates the hierarchical
relationship or the comparative status difference between him and them. This
astonishing welcome really makes him a little overwhelmed but Bob still
manages to follow this deep-rooted culture. Actually, it is not difficult to
understand the astonishment ofBob. He is a typical American who often tries
to freeze almost all status differences in social interaction whereas Japanese
community does not. Another important factor supporting the hierarchy
value in the movie is language. Research by Dolan and Worden (1994)
indicates that the system of honorific vocabularies and humble terms used by
Japanese is very rich and diverse. Evidence corroboratingthis can be noticed
in the scene ofshooting whiskey commercial at the studio. The director gives
Bob long instructions and explanations in Japanese, which then are translated
into English by the female interpreter. It becomes a matter when the English
texts are obviously much shorter than Japanese ones, which makes him
4. `
confused. Bob sees the director speak for a long time but what the interpreter
says to him is just “look into the camera, please”. His face appears anxious
and insecure for not being sure whether she covers all the Japanese words or
not. Lost in translation, Bob is like a child taking the first hesitant steps into
a strange world with a strange language, too. Were Bob to know that
“formalities” have been preferred to utilize in Japan so far, he would get the
answer for the question why Japanese speakers usually take far longer than
the English to say nearly the same things. He still follows what he can hear
from the Japanese interpreter but his head is burning inside. It is language
barrier that provides a literal interpretation of the title “Lost in Translation”.
In addition to Japanese cultural value, “Lost in Translation” describes a
great number of distinct differences between individualistic society and
collective one. There is no doubt to say both Bob and Charlotte are typical
examples of individualism which prioritizes the individual self rather than
social institutions (Craig, 2012) while “Land of Rising Sun” itself is a
representative of collectivism in which the group spirit is highly respected.
Differences between two cultures are clarified bythe situation when Charlotte
calls her friend at homeland, Lauren, trying to explain and express her
loneliness in new country and her not-going-well relationship with her
husband. But to her distress, Lauren says sorry for being snowed under and
not having time to listen to Charlotte’s stories. As a result, Charlotte is left
alone with silent tears rolling slowly down her cheek. It is as if she did not
make a phone call. From the hotel windows, looking to Japan outside where
people move in packs down the city sidewalks or get together to eat at the
hotels and to sing karaoke in public houses, shefinds herself lost in that world,
the world of collectivism. She is additionally disappointed at her family and
5. `
friends back home in the U.S who normally are too individualistic to care
about problems of the others. Bob’s situation is also similar to Charlotte’s
when he calls his wife in the last minutes of the movie. After he completely
cuts off the family life at home, the individualism of Bob's world becomes
more and more obvious. They, Bob and his wife, do not spend much time
communicating with each other. His voice over the phone seems tired
revealing his deep underlying dissatisfaction to the stagnant marriage. He
cannot tell her about his good and bad experiences in Japan because she
herself shows no interest in his new life. She also finds it not difficult to keep
their everyday life at home going smoothly without his appearance. Even
when asking about the kids, Bob is given the usual response "They are fine
but they miss their father, but they are getting used to your not being there".
It means that with orwithout Bob’s presenceathome, nothing specialhappens
because each person has to make their own private life by standing in their
own feet, taking care ofthemselves and adapting themselves to circumstances.
What an individualistic culture!
Last but not least, it cannot be denied that “Lost in Translation”
succeeds pretty well in rendering communication styles including high and
low context. Hall (1977) argues that low context culture values directness,
trustfulness and details. In contrast, indirectness, formality and interpersonal
relationship are features of high context one. It is possible for audience to
realize that the low context communication is mirrored into the image of
Kelly, a friend of Charlotte’s husband. As sitting with her close friends
including the couple Charlotte and John and some other American fellows
in the hotel bar for a drink, Kelly talks about her private affairs and then her
father life in which he was taken prisoner during the fight for the "Bay of
6. `
Pigs” so loudly and naturally as though no one else existed in the world but
only them. Even though involved in Kelly’s small talk, Charlotte decides to
stand up and plans her escape. The brash and direct way of speaking, in
deed, is inappropriate and awkward in such a society like “Land of Sakura”
where people would prefer to discuss private topics confidentially or in
secret. On the contrary, while Kelly brings her low context culture to Japan
from her beloved homeland, the U.S, Bob chooses to abide by high context
communication style when invited to participate in one of the most popular
talk shows in Japan. From his point of view, this show is completely crazy
with a Westernized in blonde hair, a very colorful suit and a freaked-out
style. Nevertheless, no matter how vulgar it is, Bob makes his effort to adapt
a little, being a ridiculous bloke imitating outlandish acts as well as dances
required by the host. He does not refuse to do those weird things, because
they are presumably what Japanese people want, what is "cool”.
“Lostin Translation” is really a brilliant movie with many beautiful and
obsessed scenes about the loneliness, fear and insecurity of two main
characters in a foreign country. Watching this movie, audience can find the
perfect balance between the brooding melancholies with a little hilarity.
Besides, audience is provided a vivid image ofJapan with a blend oftradition
and modern as well as various intercultural aspects in which hierarchy value,
collectivism and high context culture are central.
7. `
References
1. Lustig, M.W. & Koester, J. (2010) Cultural identity and cultural biases.
In M.W.Lustig, & J. Koester, Intercultural competence: Interpersonal
communication across cultures (6th ed.) (p88). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
2. Dolan, R., & Worden, R. (1994). Japan - VALUES AND BELIEFS.
Retrieved from http://countrystudies.us/japan/58.htm
3. Lazos, K., Donnellon, E., & McConnell, C. (n.d.). Japan:Values,
Proverbs and Languages. Retrieved from
http://acad.depauw.edu/~mkfinney/teaching/Com227/culturalPortfolios/japa
n/values.htm
4. Craig Biddle. Individualism vs. Collectivism: Our Future, Our Choice
[Online] 2012. Retrieved from:
https://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2012-spring/individualism-
collectivism/
5. Chapter1 Lecture: High-Context& Low-Context CultureStyles.
(n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.marin.edu/buscom/index_files/Page605.htm
6. Eckert, A., & Kohler, I. (2003). Lost in Translation. Retrieved from
http://www.uni-
hildesheim.de/interculturalfilm/show_entry.php?fid=115&sid=0&cl=1
