Lost in Translation Quotations

Lost in Translation is 2003 film about the journey of two Americans disconnected from their lives whom happen to find a their similarities in the most unlikely land, Tokyo, Japan.

Written and directed by Sofia Coppola.

Everyone wants to be found

Bob Harris

For relaxing times, make it Suntory time.

I don't get that close to the glass until I'm on the floor.

You want more mysterious? I'll just try and think, "Where the hell's the whiskey?"

Well you figure, you sleep one-third of your life, that knocks out eight years of marriage right there. So you're, y'know, down to sixteen and change. You know you're just a teenager, at marriage; you can drive it but there's still the occasional accident.

Can you keep a secret? I'm trying to organize a prison break. We have to first get out of this bar, then the hotel, then the city, and then the country. Are you in or you out?

My Japanese is getting better. We started speaking English.

Which one's burgundy?

Wasn't there anybody else to lavish attention on you?

The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.

Enjoy my jacket, which you stole.

Aren't you gonna say, "Have a good fright?"

Charlotte

You're probably just having a mid-life crisis. Did you buy a Porsche yet?

Let's never come here again because it will never be as much fun.

I tried taking pictures, but they were so mediocre. I guess every girl goes through a photography phase. You know, horses... taking dumb pictures of your feet.

Stay here with me. We'll start a jazz band.

Others

Premium Fantasy woman: Oh Mr. Harris! Don't touch me! Mr. Bob Harris! Just lip my stocking!

John: Why do you have to point out how stupid everyone is all the time?

Dialogue

Director: [in Japanese] Mr. Bob-san, you are relaxing in your study. On the table is a bottle of Suntory whiskey. Got it? Look slowly, with feeling, at the camera, and say it gently - say it as if you were speaking to an old friend. Just like Bogie in Casablanca, "Here's looking at you, kid" - Suntory time.

Ms. Kawasaki: Umm. He want you to turn, looking at camera. OK?

Bob: That's all he said?

Ms. Kawasaki: Yes. Turn to camera.

Bob: All right. Does he want me to turn from the right, or turn from the left?

Ms. Kawasaki: [to director, in Japanese] Uh, umm. He's ready now. He just wants to know if he's supposed to turn from the left or turn from the right when the camera rolls. What should I tell him?

Director: [in Japanese] What difference does it make! Makes no difference! Don't have time for that! Got it, Bob-san? Just psych yourself up, and quick! Look straight at the camera. At the camera. And slowly. With passion. Straight at the camera. And in your eyes there's... passion. Got it?

Ms. Kawasaki: [to Bob] Right side. And with intensity. OK?

Bob: Is that everything? It seemed like he said quite a bit more than that.

Director: [to Bob, in Japanese] Listen, listen. This isn't just about whiskey. Understand? Imagine you're talking to an old friend. Gently. The emotions bubble up from the bottom of your heart. And don't forget, psych yourself up!

Ms. Kawasaki: Like an old friend. And, into the camera.

Bob: OK.

Director: [in Japanese] Got it? You love whiskey. It's Suntory time. OK?

Bob: OK.

Premium Fantasy woman: Mr. Kazu sent me- premium fantasy. My stockings. Lip them. Lip my stockings. Yes, please, lip them.

Bob: What?

Premium Fantasy woman: Lip them. HEY! Lip my stocking!

Bob: Hey? Lip them? Lip them? What?

Stills Photographer: Are you drinking, no?

Bob: Am I drinking? As soon as I'm done.

Stills Photographer: You know double-O-7?

Bob: He drinks martinis, but all right.

Charlotte: So, what are you doing here?

Bob: Uh, a couple of things. Taking a break from my wife, forgetting my son's birthday. And, uh, getting paid two million dollars to endorse a whiskey when I could be doing a play somewhere.

Charlotte: Oh.

Bob: But the good news is, the whiskey works.

Bob: What are you doing?

Charlotte: My husband's a photographer, so he's here working. I wasn't doing anything so I came along. And we have some friends that live here.

Bob: How long you've been married? [gives Charlotte a light]

Charlotte: Oh, thank you. Two years.

Bob: Try twenty-five.

Charlotte: You're probably just having a mid-life crisis. Did you buy a Porsche yet?

Bob: You know, I was thinking about getting a Porsche.

Charlotte: Twenty-five years. That's, uh, well it's impressive.

Bob: Well you figure, you sleep one-third of your life, that knocks out eight years of marriage right there. So you're, y'know, down to sixteen and change. You know you're just a teenager, at marriage; you can drive it but there's still the occasional accident.

Charlotte: [laughs] Yeah.

Bob: What do you do?

Charlotte: I'm not sure yet, actually. I just graduated last spring.

Bob: What did you study?

Charlotte: Philosophy.

Bob: Yeah, there's a good buck in that racket.

Charlotte: Well, so far it's pro bono.

Bob: Well, I'm sure you'll figure out the angles.

Charlotte: Yeah. I hope your Porsche works out. Cheers to that, huh?

Bob: Cheers to that.

Kelly: John, John. You are my favorite photographer.

John: Ohhh...

Kelly: No, you are. I only want you to shoot me. It's true. [both laugh] Oh my God, I have the worst B.O. right now. I'm sorry.

Kelly: I'm under Evelyn Waugh. Shh. Bye.

John: Ok, see you later.

[Kelly walks away]

Carlotte: Evelyn Waugh?

John: What?

Charlotte: Evelyn Waugh was a man.

John: [shocked] Oh, c'mon, she's nice. Not everyone went to Yale. Its just a pseudonym, it doesn't matter.

Charlotte: Why do you have to defend her?

John: I'm not, but do you have to point out how stupid everyone is.

Charlotte: No, I thought it was funny. Forget it.

John: I gotta go meet Kelly for a drink downstairs. She wants to talk about some photo thing.

Charlotte: Ok. Maybe I'll walk down with you.

John: [surprised] You wanna come?

Charlotte: Sure.

John: Ok.

Charlotte: You ever switch seats?

Bob: Uh, I like this one. If I fall, someone will notice.

Charlotte: Yeah. So, you having a nice time?

Bob: Can you keep a secret? I'm trying to organize a prison break. We have to first get out of this bar, then the hotel, then the city, and then the country. Are you in or you out?

Charlotte: I'm in.

Bob: Good.

Charlotte: I'll go pack my stuff.

Bob: Get your coat.

Charlotte: See ya. [walks away]

Bob: I hope you've had enough to drink. It's gonna take courage

Charlotte: How long are you here for?

Bob: I'll be in the bar the rest of the week.

[Bob is wearing an orange camouflage t-shirt]

Charlotte: You really are having a mid-life crisis.

Bob: Really? I was afraid of that. I kept telling myself that I just wanted to be ready in case we go to war tonight.

Bob: I was feeling tight in the shoulders and neck, so I called down and had a Shiatsu massage in my room.

Charlotte: Mmh, that's nice!

Bob: And the tightness has completely disappeared and been replaced by unbelievable pain.

Charlotte: Yeah. I'm in pain, I got my foot banged up. Wanna see it?

Bob: [to Chef, sarcastically] How do you say no? Oh, my gosh! When did you do this?

Charlotte: I did it the other day. It hurts, y'know?

Bob: Didn't you feel any pain?

Charlotte: Yeah, it really hurt.

Bob: That toe is almost dead.

[Charlotte laughs]

Bob: I think I got to take you to a doctor. You can't just put that back in the shoe. Well, you either go to a doctor or you leave it here. [regarding Chef] He's smiling. You like that idea? See they love black toe in this country.

Charlotte: You know, the first time I saw you, you were wearing a tuxedo at the bar. You were very dashing. I liked the mascara.

Bob: [shakes his head] But the first time I saw you was in the elevator.

Charlotte: Really?

Bob: You don't remember?

Charlotte: Mmm, I guess you do kind of blend in here, huh? Did I scowl at you?

Bob: No, you smiled.

Charlotte: I did?

Bob: Yes, it was a complete accident. A freak. I haven't seen it since. Just that one time.

Charlotte: Why do they switch the r's and the l's here?

Bob: Uh, for yuks. You know? Just to mix it up. They have to amuse themselves, 'cause we're not making them laugh.

Charlotte: Let's never come here again because it will never be as much fun.

Bob: Whatever you say. You're the boss.

[Bob and Charlotte are lying on the bed]

Charlotte: I'm stuck. Does it get easier.

Bob: No. Yes. It gets easier.

Charlotte: Oh yeah? Look at you.

Bob: Thanks. The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.

Charlotte: Yeah. I just don't know what I'm supposed to be, you know. I tried being a writer, but I hate what I write. I tried taking pictures, but they were so mediocre. You know, every girl goes through a photography phase. You know, horses... taking dumb pictures of your feet.

Bob: You'll figure that out. I'm not worried about you. Keep writing.

Charlotte: But I'm so mean.

Bob: Mean's okay.

Charlotte: Yeah? What about marrage, does that get easier?

Bob: That's hard. We used to have a lot of fun. Lydia would come with me when I made the movies, and we would laugh about it all. Now she doesn't want to leave the kids, and she doesn't need me to be there. The kids miss me, but they're fine. It gets a whole lot more complicated when you have kids.

Charlotte: It's scary.

Bob: The most terrifying day of your life is the day the first one is born.

Charlotte: Nobody ever tells you that.

Bob: Your life, as you know it... is gone, never to return. But they learn how to walk, and they learn how to talk and you want to be with them. And they turn out to be the most delightful people you will ever meet in your life.

Charlotte: [beginning to fall asleep] Hmm, that's nice.

Bob: Where'd you grow up?

Charlotte: Um, I grew up in New York, and I moved to Los Angeles when John and I got married. But it's so different there.

Bob: Yeah, I know.

Charlotte: John thinks so I'm snotty.

Bob: [chuckels] You're not hopeless.

Lydia Harris: [over the phone] Is this a bad time?

Bob: [pauses] No, it's always a good time.

Lydia Harris: The burgundy carpet is out of stock. It's going to take twelve weeks. Did you like any of the other colors?

Bob: Whatever you like. I'm just completely lost.

Lydia Harris: It's just carpet.

Bob: That's not what I'm talking about.

Lydia Harris: What are you talking about?

Bob: I don't know. I just want to... get healthy. I would like to start taking better care of myself. I'd like to start eating healthier - I don't want all that pasta. I would like to start eating like Japanese food.

Lydia Harris: [icily] Well, why don't you just stay there and you can have it every day?

Bob: How are the kids doing?

Lydia Harris: They're fine. They miss their father. Do I need to worry about you, Bob?

Bob: Only if you want to.

[during lunch after Charlotte caught Bob sleeping with the female jazz singer]

Charlotte: Well, I guess she's more around your age. You guys could talk about things in common, like growing up in the fifties. Maybe she liked the movies you did in the seventies when you were still making them.

Bob: Wasn't there anyone else around to lavish you with attention?

Charlotte: That was the worst lunch.

Bob: So bad. What kind of restaurant makes you cook your own food?

Charlotte: When are you leaving.

Bob: Tomorrow.

Charlotte: I'll miss you.

Bob: I don't want to leave.

Charlotte: Then don't. Stay here with me. We'll start a jazz band.

Taglines

Everyone wants to be found.

Sometimes you have to go halfway around the world to come full circle.

Cast

Bill Murray - Bob Harris
Scarlett Johansson - Charlotte
Akiko Takeshita - Ms. Kawasaki
Giovanni Ribisi - John
Anna Faris - Kelly