I wrote a long post yesterday about Salinger, Hemingway and the song that has been floating around in my head the last couple of days.

In that post, I share the movie clip to this movie because it’s what Bill Murray sings at a crowded karaoke bar. The words hit a bit deep for him and he glances over to Scarlett Johansson and for a moment, it feels like they’re the only two people in the room.

Well I watched Lost In Translation and it was indeed, beautiful.

The story of two lonely people disconnected by the language and cultural barrier of the busy and bustling Tokyo. There’s a large age barrier but they have a slow connection to each other that continues to build. They can’t sleep, not because of where they are but an unsettling feeling that they don’t belong, nor can they get an emotional connection with their partners.

The director was Sophia Coppola and it won awards. One thing I loved was the shots and how they were framed – especially expressing their loneliness in the hotel rooms.

The thing not so good, was that some of it must have been shot hand held and you got that little “wonkiness” on the screen which is something I don’t like. I think they do it because it feels closer to the actor – as if we are there near them, observing them?

The movie is full of different themes and you can read about it here which has the full run down https://the-artifice.com/lost-in-translation/

Naturally I dreamt about similar themes again last night. I dreamt I left my home with a small group of strangers. We were all part of a tour group and we were going out at midnight to walk the streets and be guided by a tour guide through them.

Beside me, a young lady, a model, wearing a fur over her shoulders, lighting a cigarette warned me that it will get cold and to rug up. She introduced herself as Erica and then pointed to the sky.

I looked up and saw a spectacular night sky filled with clouds of different colours of all orange, grey, yellow and red hues. I had never seen a sky like that. There were two moons and other stars and planets. Around me, what seemed a lunar landscape of cliffs and stunning rock formations like what you’d find in the Nevada desert. Ahead of me an enormous futuristic looking city, with neon lights and lots of people going on their nightly lives. (Frankly, it looked like downtown Disneyworld in Florida – which at the time i was there the first time in my life seemed like another planet for me when we were there).

I was in awe as were all the others walking and looking around them.

The tour guide prompted us to stay together so that we couldn’t get lost. If we got lost, there was no going back home. We continued on but I was getting ahead of the group because I wanted to get a clearer view of the camels. However they weren’t camels. They were two of those huge four legged robot (like in Star Wars), that ran up to me for a pat. They stopped abruptly in front of me and I was in awe. I fumbled in my bag for the camera and cursed myself for not having it already in my hand.

I look around and by this time the group and Erica had moved ahead and they’re mingling together watching a boat come in to the harbour. Part of me wants to walk ahead alone but another part of me is fearful that I don’t lose sight of the group.

I walk to the group to see what they’re watching and it’s a boat docking and it’s made entirely of Lego. It has clear port holes (filled with Lego). I find my camera in my bag and pull it out. It’s one of those instammatic clear plastic toy cameras. I take a photo of the boat and hear the click.

My last thought before I woke up was, “gee I hope that photo turns out”.

I woke up refreshed for the new day. In my dream, I was in awe, curious, open, in wonder. I’m still part of the group. They’re good feelings.

Even in my dreams, I don’t wander off alone. I am not lost.

Things will be ok.