Lost in Translation
I saw this new movie over the weekend. It seems that several other bloggers saw it as well. Joi Ito writes about it and has some good links and comments in his blog. Having lived in Japan for a number of years, and visiting just last month, I enjoyed the film. I always felt Tokyo to be a sort of romantic city, a place to get discover new things, a place to disappear in, a place to be with someone special. Bill Murry and Scarlett Johanssen do a very good job in their roles. And although the movie very much focuses on those two characters, I caught all the surrounding wonder that Japan has to offer.
This got me thinking about Japan's tourism woes. They have a national goal to double the number of tourists to Japan by 2010. Hollywood can certainly help here. The film Lost in Translation may help a little, but I think it would help a lot more if Hollywood brought out some of the Japanese personality, wisdom, and hospitality in the future films.
When I think of old movies with Gary Cooper in France or Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca, I somehow always get that feeling "I need to go on vacation there someday". And millions do each year. These movie characters are great of course, but these old movies added another element, perhaps more important than the cultural landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, these old movies always had wonderful dialog from the local citizens (or at least actors pretending to be local citizens). And they spoke English. I know I won't be meeting Humphrey Bogart when I go on tour of Casablanca, but I'll be meeting all these people who carry the personality portraid in the movie. That's why I'd go there.
The most disappointing thing about Lost in Translation, was the portail of the Japanese people. By restricting the local citizens' dialog to Japanese language only, I'm afraid, that to typical Americans, Japan and its people will always seem distant and impossible to intract with. Although it is certainly a challenge to be in Japan without some Nihongo skill, the people of Japan are generally very patient and helpful, and of course very polite. And thanks to the web, there's plenty of English help around if you visit.
Funny or witty English dialog by local Japanese citizens can help bridge the borders by giving an impression of the Japanese national personality. We can't understand anything about the typical Japanese personality from watching this film, except the typical worn out, trite stereotypes. Hence, we are presented only superficial and visual clues as to what Japan is about, and miss out on the most important part of Japan, its people.
I'm sure the movie will lead some to finally take that trip to Japan. I hope Hollywood does more in the next film to present how truly wonderful the people of Japan can be. Once the world knows that, Japan's tourism industry will boom.
P.S. I loved that scene where Bill Murray drives the golf ball on that amazing fairway at the foot of Mt. Fuji. What an incredible view. I was waiting for him to break down and start hunting gophers :) Anyone know the name of that golf course?
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