I interpret the relationships based on two bits of dialog from each character. Charlotte says she's searching for a reason to be and Bob tells his wife from the tub that he wants his life to be changed, impacted by his experiences in Japan, They offer each other what they need, regardless of age. She needs purpose and he offers her the chance to expose him to a vibrant life. She offers him a chance to learn new philosophies. He offers her a chance to see that her learning and experiences can be shared and developed upon.
She is lost, the temple and monks do not effect her soul. His excursions to the bar and pool only increase his sense of loneliness in the world. When they come together, it is like the fireworks going off as projected on the disco balloons, brief ecstasy.

My imagined ending whisper is that he told her to call him when she returns to LA in a week so they can continue their joint study of happiness. Each as an explorer and no matter of import to their individual ages.

When seen through the lens of isolation and loneliness, the age difference absolutely makes sense. Is their relationship one as lovers? Father-daughter? Two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year? Ultimately, it doesn't matter, but if their age was much closer, and if that subsequently tempted them into bed with each other, the film would have been a complete wash-out.
Do you (the generic "you") find yourself rooting for them to kiss? and make love?
Do you find yourself hoping that they share some intimacy without sex?
That's the beauty of this movie, the isolation creates an ambiguity that works in so many ways.

and that, my liege, is how we know the Earth to be banana shaped.

It seemed pretty clear that she's a college graduate in the film, so she was playing someone about 22 or so.

hey if my point can be equated to a bus- sorry buddy, you missed it .

Funny how you stoop so low as to post insults, yet I am the one who's a troll? In the future, try to understand that everyone does not share the same opinion. Discussion boards about movies and actors are sure to include conflicting opinions. Grow up.

OMG just change your name to Troll - sorry you just don't get subtext; I was implying that sophia threw scenes in to make you question motives feelings and how we judge characters. Next time I correct your imbecilic rantings i will do a bullet point presentation, so you understand. I actually think the butt shot wasn't needed but of course everyone immediately starts making assumptions about what a character is like..and is then forced to address if they feel differently about an individual character- was she really considering committing adultery ? how did she really feel about murray.
He clearly was capable of adultery but chose to refrain with Scarlett
How about you look up from your iphone 5 occasionally when you watch a film you then criticise.

Oh.a butt shot made it a brilliant movie? Sophia C. is such a joke. If it weren't for her father she would be waiting tables. I get it, trust me. She needed some sort of controversy, albeit minor, to make this movie relevant. Why else cast a 17 year old? I'm assuming the ass shot was a body double; irregardless, it's a cheap trick to put wind in the sails of a weak film who's target audience was older men or fans of her father's works.

I think you missed a lot of subtext and symbolism here Getmeout which possibly meant you ddint quite get what sophia was showing - but again that's my opinion. it could be argued that the gratuitous "butt shot" at the beginning skewed the viewer into making Scarlet an object of desire and distorting how we then watched her interact with Murray .or did sophia do that for precisely that reason ???
thats what makes this a brilliant film .sorry if you didnt get it.
"and i'm all out of gum."

No, I don't confuse love with sexual attraction. I don't think that about Leon in The Professional either. They are two totally different types of relationships. Lost in translation seems like some creepy old man's fantasy. IMO

If you had understood the real relationship between them you wouldn't confuse love with sexual attraction. If what you said were true I would assume you thought "Leon, the professional" was about a pedophile hitman _.

Yeah I agree she was great. She didn't look 17 to me, so maybe that's why. She looked older than she was.

She was perfect for the part.

While I loved Johansson in this, I wonder, why cast a 17-year-old? Kind of odd.

Agree. Bob felt loving and protective towards Charlotte. I love the scene where he carries her in his arms to her hotel room. He tucks her in and says good night. It's kind, loving and completely non-sexual.
This film is enormously touching. One of the reasons I like it so much is that their relationship remains unconsumated. To me this is realistic and adult.

Never say never

Oh there is no doubt Bob was attracted to Charlotte, who wouldn't it be? But there is a universe difference between having a attraction to someone and trying to act on them. Plus I think Bob as time went on saw her as really a little sister then even a daughter.

True. I would like a 22 year old at 45 so I can sympathize with Bill. He wasn't trying to get with her, but after hanging out with her they got close. Was just my thoughts at the time I guess.

While I agree death might be too strong of a word, the OP was very misinformed. The main characters were never "in love". They grew to love each other by the end but they never felt romantic feelings towards each other except maybe Bob lusting after Charlotte (he is a guy after all!). Plus Charlotte clearly wasn't seventeen despite what Scarlett's age during filming. She was a recent college graduate making her around 22-23 years old.

Yesdeath to anyone who has a different opinion than you!

People like you should seriously be sentenced to death for being so god damn stupid.
I know you've had a rough time.

I agree.

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I agree with you. I never saw a "romance" in the film. I saw two lost souls, one just out of college and scared, and one running out of time and scared. Just my opinion.

I think we get your point, actually.
But OUR point is that you're just kind of pathetic, ageist, and immature.
Especially ageist and immature. Okaypathetic.

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