Asperger’s/Autism & Lost in Translation

[MoreThanThisToo]

I’ve watched Lost in Translation an absurd number of times over the decades. A comfort blanket of sorts; a film that consistently calms me.

I was recently diagnosed with ASD (more specifically Asperger’s, in old-tongue) and alexithymia. I’ve been wondering whether some of what makes the film so rewatchable for me might overlap with autistic traits: the quiet pacing, the ambiguity, sparse dialogue, the atmosphere carrying the emotion, the lack of ‘performative’ dialogue, the feeling of being slightly out of sync with the world.

I’m not suggesting that loving this film means someone is autistic, but I’m curious if a disproportionate fraction of those that love the film have ASD? Whether having ASD or not, I’m curious if other people experience the film as unusually regulating/comforting, and perhaps sometimes use it for that purpose?

Another thought, offered very carefully: I cannot help but wonder if Sofia may some ASD traits? Having seen her in interview, I get the vibe (or perhaps that is just me projecting/misreading). It’s just remarkable how precisely the film captures that particular kind of quiet dislocation.