This line, which we have never heard, still speaks after 20 years

Sofia Coppola was inspired to write and direct Lost in Translation by her own childhood, when she followed her father, Francis Ford Coppola, from hotel to hotel. The filmmaker also used his experiences in Japan when he was 25 to create this special world in which Charlotte, the character played by Scarlett Johansson in the acclaimed film, takes place.

In addition to going down in film history – especially with the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay – lost in translation It also left, as SensaCine reminds us, a mystery that, 20 years later, is still unsolved, and that surely never will be: Bobby’s (Bill Murray) parting words to young Charlotte…

The feature film follows the relationship that develops between Bob Harris, a declining middle-aged actor who is in Tokyo to shoot a commercial, and Charlotte, a young woman who accompanies her husband on a trip to Japan. She spends most of her time alone, as does Bobby: the duo then meet in a hotel bar. There is a kind of understanding between them that leads to an unexpected friendship and something else.

During the final meeting between the characters at the end of the film, Bob is on his way to the airport when he sees Charlotte walking down the street. They didn’t say goodbye properly the night before, so he gets out of the cab and goes to her. They both hug and he whispers something in her ear. Charlotte shakes her head. But what did he tell her? No one knows and many have tried to decipher his words – to no avail.

It was planned that Bill Murray Name the final sentence as he wishes. Besides, their last kiss was also an improvisation. Over time, many netizens have come up with theories, one of the most common being that he would say, “I have to go, but I won’t let this come between us, okay?“

However, many think that he ends his sentence with a mumble:You said the truth“or”Tell him the truthAccording to the character of Charlotte’s husband, Giovanni Ribisi, and a YouTube video that many believe to be reliable, the sentence would go something like this:When John is waiting for his next business trip… go to this man and tell him the truth. ok”, an option that matched the reality of the two characters.

Official version

In 2018, in connection with the 15th anniversary of the film, Sofia Coppola addressed this mystery in an interview with Little White Lies (via SensaCine).

The things Bill whispers to Scarlett never meant anything. I was going to figure out what to say later and add it, but we never did. It was between them, just acknowledging that this week meant something to both of them and that it affected their lives back. People always ask me what they say. I always like Bill’s answer: it’s among the favorites, so I’ll leave it at that.

Even if the mystery is never solved – if Bill Murray have you ever revealed a secret – Sofia Coppola accomplished his mission. He said it himself lost in translation is a film “about the misunderstandings between people and places” and that it’s “about disconnected things and connecting moments”. Bob and Charlotte are two disconnected souls who meet each other in solitude. What happens between them is up to them.

Lost in Translation celebrates its 20th anniversary in just 10 days: the chance to watch the iconic film available for streaming on MyCanal.