10 Ways In Which Her And Lost In Translation Are Connected To Each Other

9. They Live In A City That's Technologically Advanced

Theodore Twombly lives in Los Angeles in the not-so-distant future. Many scenes in Her were shot in Shanghai, China which helps give LA a more futuristic look. Throughout the film, Theodore is seen wearing his headphones, talking to his OS system, playing video games----it's as if he's completely sucked into this technological world. There are many shots inside Theodore's apartment where we can see the city of Los Angeles in the background. In the middle of all these giant buildings and array of lights, Theodore stands alone in a spacious apartment. Against the backdrop of the city, Theodore seems incredibly small. Unlike most characters in other films, the world does not revolve around him. While Lost in Translation is set in the present, Tokyo is definitely more technologically advanced than your average city. At the very least, whenever Bob Harris or Charlotte look out the window, they seem to be in complete awe of what they see. It really does not look much different than Spike Jonze's futuristic Los Angeles. Charlotte and Bob both feel overwhelmed in this city; and since they do not speak the language, their feelings are exacerbated. There are many scenes where Charlotte stares out at the city of Tokyo from her giant window. Like with Her, Charlotte is made to seem incredibly small and insignificant compared to this vast city. The main difference here is that, in Her, the characters have accepted the advanced technology and have become a part of it. In Lost in Translation, Bob Harris and Charlotte are unsure what to make of what they see and subsequently feel lost. When they are together, however, they are able to navigate the city much more comfortably. The same can be said with Her. Once Theodore meets Samantha and connects with her, he walks through the city with a much bigger smile on his face.