MovieChat Forums > Lost in Translation (2003) Discussion > The whisper (I know, I know... but let's...

The whisper (I know, I know... but let's solve it already)

posted 9 years ago by hansbizarre
22 replies | jump to latest

Watched this again on TV the other night and came her for a definitive answer, thinking, incorrectly, that there was one - that one of the key players revealed it years ago.

I've read the popular guesses and had a listen to the YouTube videos to see if I could hear the same things. I've done a lot of audio work and I'm used to listening intently to dialogue and from what I can hear, only the beginning and end of the whispered line I can be almost certain of. They are:

"Promise me, that ... [becomes inaudible in the middle - sounds like they deliberately dropped the audio down and brought it back up to make it unclear] ... tell (him) the truth. OK?"

Obviously there's a lot of things that can fit in the middle of these two bookends, but to my ear, the closest guess out there that I've come across is:

"Promise me, that the next thing you do, is go up to that man and tell him the truth. OK?"

I'm not saying this is the definitive answer - obviously, believe whatever you want to believe - I'm just saying this sounds like the closest match to the audio, in my opinion. And to be honest, I really can't reconcile other popular interpretations that begin with "I love you..." or "I have to be leaving..." or "When John goes on his next business trip..." etc. I actually have to wonder how these guesses became so popular, because to my ear the audio does not bear them out. "Promise me..." and "...tell ... truth" I would say are pretty spot-on.

Thanks for reading - love to know what others think!

artspear.com - just throwing it out there

[–] TxMike 9 years ago

OK, for discussion's sake let's go with "Promise me, that..."

Has it occurred to you that he didn't say anything related to the movie's story itself? Maybe he was just saying something, Bill to Scarlett, like "Promise me that as you go on to make other movies you'll keep being the sweet person you are."

My own recollection is that Sophia did not want it to be a specific message, instead something obscure so that each viewer could make up his/her own idea of what would fit. E.g. the true romantics might prefer "Promise me, that you'll explain to your husband how you feel and start fresh because a good marriage is a wonderful thing." Or a cynic might prefer, "Promise me, that you will tell your husband what a selfish cad he is and you want a fresh start with someone else while you are still young. I'd volunteer for that job but I really care for you and I'm just too old."

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Make a choice, to take a chance, to make a difference.

[–] hansbizarre 9 years ago

Ha- good point. The cynic in me imagines him saying something like "Promise me you won't tell my wife I committed adultery with a random lounge singer I just met that night and also spent a week being inappropriately intimate with a married woman less than half my age."

artspear.com - just throwing it out there

[–] philoj 8 years ago

>Has it occurred to you that he didn't say anything related to the movie's story itself? Maybe he was just saying something, Bill to Scarlett, like "Promise me that as you go on to make other movies you'll keep being the sweet person you are."

I really like this, and again - I think it adds to the movie that as much as it was about the characters, maybe a little bit it was about Bill & Scarlett.

And yeah - something equivalent to "Promise me you'll never let them change you" sounds pretty on-the-mark, both as Bill speaking to Scarlett, and Bob speaking to Charlotte.

--
Philo's Law: To learn from your mistakes, you have to realize you're making mistakes.

[–] holchie 9 years ago

I agree that it was something like you said. I am thinking, though, that there was a door left open for a continued relationship, and he said something like, This is not goodbye, we will meet again. I will call you one day. Okay?

[–] TxMike 9 years ago

The only thing that would throw a wrench into all our points is this ... right after he whispers whatever he whispers, she makes a "takes her breath away" sound or gasp, as if it is something a lot more significant than what we are surmising.

Then again maybe Sophia told her to make that sort of sound just to add to the ambiguity of the situation.

From a practical movie-making point of view it is a superb way to end this particular movie because leaving us wondering and speculating is more effective than writing an actual conversation that half of the viewers would say "that was a stupid way to end it" and the other half saying "ah, that's a nice way to end it."

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Take a risk, Take a chance, Make a change. Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MyDarkStar 8 years ago

I think the gasp is just her trying to hold tears back, not her being shocked by what he says.

[–] coachese68 9 years ago

Pretty sure Coppola maintains that it was entirely up to Bill Murray to say what he wanted.

http://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-secret-of-the-lost-in-translation-whisper-unlocked/

Nothing like being the minority to make FoxNews concerned about rights of the minority

[–] paul51-1 9 years ago

We're overthinking this. The simple answer is usually correct. Bob is simply giving Charlotte his contact information so they can hook up when they are both back in the States. The "truth" Bob wants Charlotte to tell is that she is not in love with her husband any longer. His own "truth" is similar; he's no longer happy in his marriage. That's why Bob looks back and smiles at Charlotte. He knows they will hook up later in the States. But, I hear you saying, "Charlotte does not write down his phone number." That's because his instructions are simple...something like, "Call Universal Pictures and ask for Marge. She can tell you how to reach me." Simple.

[–] RaimeyD 9 years ago

Dang...lots of good answers here. Thanks folks.

Whatever he said, it had an emotional impact on Charlotte...a deep emotional impact. I did not expect to see her hug back so hard...especially standing on tippy toes. Her eyes were red from crying.

I think they fell in love for the moment. Separation always puts everything back into normal perspective and the "love affair" becomes a cold memory.

Blue

[–] theater_dreamer 9 years ago

What was said has been definitively uncovered, and it's on Youtube, in case you want to know. And yes, the line Bob whispered into Charlotte's ear was completely ad-libbed by Bill Murray.

Never for the sake of peace and quiet deny your convictions-Dag Hammarskjold

[–] TxMike 9 years ago

None of us will believe you just by saying what you did. Provide a link if there is one. Personally I don't believe there is a youtube video that shows it was "definitely" uncovered. Probably just a speculation, as many of us are doing here.

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes not.

[–] theater_dreamer 8 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MV7Sym8bIQ

This has been reported on Rotten Tomatoes, and a slew of other film related sites.

Never for the sake of peace and quiet deny your convictions-Dag Hammarskjold

[–] TxMike 8 years ago

Reminds me of those "bad lip-reading" videos. 

..*.. TxMike ..*..
Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes not.

[–] MyDarkStar 8 years ago

If that is correct then that's a great line.

[–] cbfan41 8 years ago

It should really be added to the film because it explains it so perfectly. They are ending as they say goodbye physically but in their minds they will always have each other to lean on in tough times.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] CromeRose 8 years ago

Who cares? I was just glad this borefest was over at last.

[–] benedictcumberbatch-87693 8 years ago

sofia had an affair with sean connery and we all know who faris is based on

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]