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Volume CXXXIII, Number 16 |
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Lost in Translation found on campus just in time for Oscars
DAVIN MICHAELS
COLUMNIST
The moment you all have been waiting for is here-the Academy Awards ceremony is this weekend.
In order to welcome the excitement of the Oscars, the Bowdoin Film Society has brought to campus one of the most critically-acclaimed films of 2003, Lost In Translation.
This film won three Golden Globes back in January for Best Picture (musical or comedy), Best Actor (musical or comedy) for Bill Murray and Best Original Screenplay. The film is now nominated for four Academy Awards, adding to the above list Sofia Coppola for Best Director.
Coppola, daughter of the famous film director Francis Ford Coppola (Apocalypse Now, The Godfather trilogy) and wife of Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) made her debut as a director in 2000 with The Virgin Suicides, a compelling drama about a group of guys who become obsessed with a mysterious group of religious sisters. Her new masterpiece Lost In Translation asserts her place as one of the most gifted young directors in the film world.
Lost In Translation tells the story of two lost souls. Charlotte (Scarlett Johanssen), a wife straight out of Yale with a degree in philosophy who accompanies her photographer husband (Giovanni Ribisi) to Tokyo. Charlotte is left alone while her husband travels for business, wandering the streets in search of her place in the world. Bob Harris (Murray) is a semi-retired film actor, who is in his mid-fifties and past his prime, comes to Tokyo to earn $2 million by doing a Scotch commercial. Bob has a wife and kids but is bored, melancholic, and lonely.
The two meet and strike up a remarkable friendship, based on their common experiences as Americans living in Tokyo and being exposed to cultural and linguistic differences. The relationship between the two deepens and a sort of romance buds as they exchange stories and learn how to grow from their mutual experiences.
The story is original with some very well-crafted dialogue that helps to reveal aspects of each character. Credit must also be given to Ms. Coppola for the way in which she uniquely chose to photograph Tokyo to reveal its personality as a character and as the backdrop for a film about introspection and loving friendships. Bill Murray deserves a large applause for his career standout performance, proving himself as both a talented comic actor and dramatic character, capable of anything.
Lost In Translation has been chosen as one of the top films of last year by over 80 prominent film critics and won a great deal of attention on an international level. Don't miss this opportunity to see the film on the big screen before the Academy Awards! The film will be shown this Friday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in Smith Auditorium of Sills Hall. It is free and sponsored by the Bowdoin Film Society.
In addition, we encourage everyone to join us Sunday evening for a spectacular Oscar Party, in which members of the club and all others interested can come to Kresge Auditorium in the VAC to watch the awards on the big screen and enjoy heated discussions among film enthusiasts. The show begins approximately at 8:00 p.m. on ABC. Hope to see you there!
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