Sofia Coppola Still Won’t Watch Spike Jonze’s ‘Her’ Years Later: “I Don’t Know If I Want To See Rooney Mara As Me”

Film anniversaries are a great way to make someone feel old. Has it really been 20 years since Sofia Coppola’s “Lost in Translation?” Apparently so. Not only that, but it’s been a decade since Spike Jonze’s “Her.” That said, now is a great time to revisit the special connection between the two films, and why Coppola still hasn’t seen “Her.”

Speaking in Rolling Stone, in a 20th anniversary tribute to “Lost in Translation,” Sofia Coppola talked about all the various aspects of her breakout hit film. However, one of the more interesting moments in the interview comes when the link to Spike Jonze and his film “Her” is discussed.

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For those unaware, “Lost in Translation” and “Her” are often linked together in the minds of film fans. Not only do they share a similar filmmaking style, though very different settings, but it’s said that these films are thematically linked, showcasing two points of view on the failed marriage between Coppola and Jonze. Now, this isn’t some sort of new gossip, but there is definitely truth to this theory, as Coppola has talked about her marriage to Jonze being an influence on “Lost in Translation,” while she also admitted to never watching his “Her.”

While being fairly vague and somewhat complimentary, it’s clear Coppola really has no desire to watch “Her,” considering she believes that one of the characters is based on her.

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“Well, yeah… I never saw it! From the trailer, it looks the same too. We have the same production designer,” said Coppola. “But I haven’t seen it. I know people really like that movie, but I haven’t seen it. I don’t know if I want to see Rooney Mara as me. [Laughs]”

Conversely, there has been plenty written about how Bill Murray’s character in “Lost in Translation” is inspired, to some degree, by Jonze. And this is an aspect of the film that led to a bit of an uncomfortable situation between Michel Gondry and Coppola, after the former confronted the latter at the premiere of the film, unhappy about the way it potentially paints Jonze as a partner.

“[Michel Gondry] apologized to me about that. He scolded me at my premiere, but he apologized,” said Coppola. “I think he was being a good friend. He thought he was defending Spike, but he was putting me down at my premiere. It came out of him trying to be a good friend to Spike.”

Regardless of what you think about the marriage between Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola and how it affected the stories of “Lost in Translation” and “Her,” 2023 is probably the best year to revisit these films, which share a unique bond.