Sofia Coppola: ‘I’m glad we weren’t kicked out of Tokyo making Lost in Translation’
The director talks about what she learnt from her mother, working with a rookie Tim Burton, and 20 years of her cult classic Marie Antoinette
TL;DR
- Coppola's mother influenced her to stay true to herself, find beauty in surroundings, and notice odd details, which are reflected in her films.
- Filming 'Lost in Translation' involved guerrilla tactics, such as filming on the subway and from a Starbucks for a view of Shibuya crossing, to avoid permit issues.
- The soundtrack for 'Marie Antoinette' used post-punk and new romantic music to convey the youth of the main characters, a choice that initially offended some viewers.
- Coppola's mother documented 'Marie Antoinette' with nearly 80 hours of footage, which Coppola later revisited as a 'home movie.'
- She worked with a young Tim Burton on his short film 'Frankenweenie,' describing it as a fun experience where he would make drawings for her.
- Coppola considers a party in Versailles with New Order playing 'Ceremony' to be a cherished happy memory.
- She has been called a 'girlblogger icon' and appreciates that her work connects with young women.
- The meaning of Bob's whisper to Charlotte at the end of 'Lost in Translation' remains between them, echoing Bill Murray's sentiment.