For two decades, a cinematic enigma has persisted: the whispered words of Bill Murray to Scarlett Johansson in the concluding moments of Sofia Coppola’s 2003 masterpiece, “Lost in Translation.” Since its release in September 2003, this mystery has tantalized audiences, leaving them to ponder the parting sentiment that Murray’s character, Bob Harris, imparts to Johansson’s character, Charlotte, amid their unlikely bond during their sojourn in Tokyo.
Coppola and the film’s stars have consistently refrained from revealing the precise dialogue of this pivotal scene, leaving the task of deciphering Murray’s sotto-voiced message to the denizens of the internet. In a 2007 video, a YouTube-based cinema enthusiast employed digital audio processing to isolate Murray’s utterance, proposing the following interpretation: “I have to be leaving, but I won’t let that come between us. OK?”
While some may believe the case is solved, Scarlett Johansson is less convinced. During an interview with Yahoo Entertainment earlier this year, conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Johansson reacted to the purported quote from Murray two decades earlier with a chuckle, stating, “Oh my god, that sounds pretty profound. Probably way more profound than what was actually said!” Naturally, she refrained from disclosing the actual words exchanged.
Upon revisiting the internet’s solution, Johansson’s confidence in its accuracy waned further. She remarked, “Maybe? I don’t know about that. I give it, like, a B-minus.” It seems the mystery endures.
Nevertheless, one certainty remains for Johansson: “Lost in Translation” retains its enduring appeal, as relevant today as it was two decades ago. The actress described the film as a timeless exploration of the relationship between two individuals. It garnered critical acclaim, securing four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, with Sofia Coppola winning the accolade for Best Original Screenplay.
However, the cultural landscape has shifted considerably since 2003, making the portrayal of the relationship between an older, famous actor and a younger woman a more nuanced endeavor in the post-#MeToo era. Notably, the connection between Bob and Charlotte in “Lost in Translation” remains platonic throughout the film, yet their profound bond is palpable and defies easy description, thus culminating in the enigmatic whisper.
Johansson contends that the unique circumstances of their brief encounter allow the characters to sidestep any #MeToo concerns. She emphasized that the film portrays the profound impact these two characters have on each other, highlighting the absence of judgment from viewers. In her words, “It’s just two people that come together in this circumstance that’s sort of foreign, and they’re what’s familiar to them. It’s because of that they connect with one another. You feel like if they met in any other place or at any other time, they wouldn’t be as vulnerable to connecting in that way.”
