Here’s a little interesting thing I found a couple of weeks ago, though I just didn’t bother to post about it here. First off, I consider myself part of the contingent that considers Lost in Translation one of the better of films of this decade. A lot of people don’t agree with this, but hey, can’t please everyone. That being said, I think those have seen it can agree that the ending is an important moment that should not be tampered with by any means.
We all know this scene, where Bill Murray embraces Scarlett Johanssen and whispers something to her, to which we never know what is said. It’s a beautiful and touching moment, even if we never find out what words were said. It’s intended to be this way, a moment that was created to be ambiguous. That ambiguity being a perfect conclusion to the arc of these two characters in the film.
For some people, this apparently isn’t enough. There’s a video where someone has gone and digitally enhanced the sound to find out what is being said during that whisper. The link is out there (which I won’t post, cos I think it’s just sad) and I decided almost instantly that I didn’t want to watch it. Something inside me felt like if I were curious enough to check it out, that it would ruin that film for me.
It feels similar to the finale of The Sopranos where everyone was trying to figure out if Tony got whacked or whatever else that could have transpired. Seriously, if it were intended for us to have that kind of specific closure, than i’m sure it would’ve been provided. Otherwise, who the fuck cares. I certainly don’t want to know.
So what do you think? All these years later, do you feel cheated by the ending of Lost in Translation or anything similar? Are you willing to to find out what is being said? If so, i’m curious to know what you’re feeling is after checking it out*.
“Just Like Honey” :: The Jesus And Mary Chain
*If you want the link bad enough, i’ll post it.
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Please PJ, don’t post that. That is the beauty that is the movie. you know this and I know this. It is my favorite movie for many reasons but the fact it leaves you wondering yet possibly knowing is plain brilliant.
In Short. No.
Beautiful movie, beautiful ending! Curiosity is very bad and I hope I won’t ever find out… now, that I know we can.
No spoiler (if you can call it that) don’t worry.
Well, after reading this post i went and watched the film for the first time, great movie, anyways, afterwards i went and watched the little sound enhanced video, and what it said didn’t actually make much sense, so i went to imdb and in the FAQ’s for this movie, it answers the question, whoever you will have to look at an older version of the answer because the new one is the same as the youtube video.
I chose not too look at the video either. Not being able to understand everything was one of the freakin’ themes of the movie! It’s kind of like the end of Radiohead’s “Just” video, not knowing is a huge part of the magic (only in LIT the effect is opposite
)…
Im glad we all are in agreeement!!!!
Sometimes that is what makes film (and art) great – it’s different things to different people. It’s like a great book – the author provides the narrative and it’s up to the reader to create their own experience and landscape while reading. I love movies and art like this – they leave you thinking.
In fact, I don’t like when people go back and fill in the blanks for the viewer – look at the Matrix. They had this whole story plotted out and the movies gave you just one part of it. Instead of leaving the holes up to the viewer to create their own Matrix story in their head, they exploited it to sell video games and cartoons. WTF?
It’s like the end of the movie “Before Sunset” – at the end, they fade out, leaving the viewer to wonder if the couple gets back together or part ways. BTW, I’m not a fan of romantic comedies, but “Before Sunset” and it’s predecessor are the best of the genre.
Great post!
Chris! Can’t believe you referred to Before Sunset! That’s exactly the film that represents this perfectly. It’s like that quote from Ethan Hawke in the beginning…something about it being a nice test of if you’re a romantic or a cynic. Both amazing films that everyone should watch!
the film is perfect the way it is. finding out what was whispered would be like being told how much she paid for the stairway to heaven.