Elusive, subtle and atmospheric, Lost in Translation was one of the indie hits of 2004, earning widespread critical praise, awards and success at the box office. But what was the basis of its appeal and how exactly is the film marked as a distinctly independent work? From consideration of industrial factors such as funding and release strategy to the role of star performance and formal qualities including its low key narrative structure and impressionistic use of visual imagery and sound, this book - written by a leading authority on American indie film--provides an in-depth analysis of the balance of more and less mainstream qualities offered by the film, from one of the leading authorities on recent and contemporary American independent cinema.