What is language and cultural background of the film

CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background
The Last Samurai is a 2003 American epic war film directed and co-produced by Edward Zwick, who also co-wrote the screenplay with John Logan. The film stars Tom Cruise, who also co-produced, as well as Ken Watanabe, Shin Koyamada, Tony Goldwyn, Hiroyuki Sanada, Timothy Spall, and Billy Connolly. Inspired by a project by Vincent Ward, it interested Zwick, with Ward later serving as executive producer. The film production went ahead with Zwick and was shot in Ward’s native New Zealand.
The characters of the film are Tom Cruise as Captain Nathan Algren, a veteran of the American Civil War and the Indian Wars, born in the British Empire but a naturalised American. Ken Watanabe as Lord Moritsugu Katsumoto. Hiroyuki Sanada as Ujio. Shin Koyamada as Nobutada. Tony Goldwyn as Colonel Bagley. Masato Harada as Omura. Shichinosuke Nakamura as Emperor Meiji. Timothy Spall as Simon. Graham Seizo Fukumoto as the Silent Samurai. Koyuki as Taka. Billy Connolly as Sergeant Zebulon Gant. Shun Sugata as Nakao. Sosuke Ikematsu as Higen. Scott Wilson as Ambassador Swanbeck
"The Last Samurai" is about two warriors whose cultures make them aliens, but whose values make them comrades. when Algren finds himself trapped in an enemy village, The Last Samurai digs in for the long haul, giving us plenty of time to linger on the people and places that we're about to end up fighting for. This, not the film's magnificent battles, is what truly makes Samurai such an epic masterpiece. Much of the film is spoken in Japanese as Algren struggles to communicate in a world where almost no one speaks his language. His conversations with Katsumoto, who does speak English, are simultaneously humorous and touching. He also develops a growing relationship with the Japanese woman and her family he stays with, as well as a silent affection for the warrior sent to guard him, affectionately nicknamed "Bob".

On the whole of the film until the climactic end of the fierce battle, have proved that modern weapons could probably defeat the Samurai is so thick with traditional weapons limited to swords, spears and bows. This has indirectly described the role of American States to give effect to the country of Japan in an effort to save the country from ruin Sakura military. However, the fierce war that led to the Samurai code of ethics, death in the battlefield is much more respectful with his sword. This is what gives us a glimpse into that sign of respect from the community (military) Japan should prove to respect what has been the ancestral heritage. One of the ways to release stooped hat gives one of the last respect to the group or leader that no other Samurai is also part of their real life (identity).
1.2. Formulation of the Problem.
1. What is language and cultural background of the film?
2. What is the review analysis of the film related to the study of Cross Culture Understanding?
1.3. Purpose of Writing.
1. Want to know language and cultural background of the film.
2. Want to know the review analysis Cross Culture Understanding


CHAPTER II
REVIEW ON THE RELATED
A. Language and Cultural Background.
 Language is a human system of communication that uses arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols. Language Background is How similar are the language of the new country to the person’s native language. It means that how the new comer can know about the native speaker in the new country.
 Culture is a shared background (for example, national, ethnic, religious) resulting from a common language and communication style, customs, beliefs, attitudes, and values. Cultural Background is How similar are the culture of the new country to the person’s native culture.
B. The differences of culture
High-Context Culture
• long lasting relationship
• Exploiting context
• Spoken agreements
• Insiders and outsiders clearly distinguished
• Cultural patterns
• What is said and how or where it is said are significant or indirectness
Low-Context Culture
• Shorter relationship
• Less dependent on context
• Written agreements
• Insiders and outsiders less clearly distinguished
• Cultural patterns change
• What is said is more important than how or where it is said (directness)
C. Stereotype is an exaggerated belief about a group often based on a lack of information or contact with members of the group.
D. Mainstream Culture and individual Behavior
 Mainstream culture is the values, beliefs, and behavior of the dominant group in a society. The behavior of the group is based on its values and beliefs.
 Individual Behavior is the actions and activities of one person.
E. The each stage in the Cultural Shock and Adjustment Process in a New Country.
a. Cultural Shock
The individuals are immersed in new problems: housing, transportation, employment, shopping, and language. Mental fatigue results from continuously straining to understand new language and culture.
b. Adjustment Stage
Everyday activities such as housing and shopping are no longer major problems. The Visitors may not yet be fluent the spoken language, but they can know express their basic ideas and feelings.
c. A newcomer has become accustomed to the habits, customs, foods, and characteristics of the people in the new culture.

CHAPTER III
DISCUSSION
A. Language and Cultural Background in the Last Samurai Film
a. Language background
In the Last Samurai film “Nathan Algren is a new comer in Japan; he does not know about the Japanese Language, he is from America, thus his Language background is English. He tries to know and imitates the Japanese Language until he can”.
b. Cultural background
In the Last Samurai film “Once in the Samurai’s village Algren must overcome both the effects of his strong dependence on alcohol as well his past actions. To aid him in this battle Algren begins to travel the village, watching the day-to-day life of the peasants and the Samurai. During this time Algren not only learns the language of his capturers but begins to develop an understanding of their way of life. Here he shows how a leader takes the opportunities to understand the culture of the society, he is residing in and how this culture affects the behavior of individuals within this group. Another lesson to be learned from the film comes after Captain Algren joins the cause of the Samurai. After it is apparent that advocating for the Samurai’s traditional Japanese lifestyle is useless Algren devotes himself completely to the Samurai’s cause. With his understanding of both the American culture and the Japanese culture he is able to understand the influence of Western warfare on the tactics employed by the Emperor’s soldiers. With this knowledge he proposes a risky plan of attack for the last of the Samurai.
B. The stereotype in the last samurai film appears in the one statement that said “Japan is created by sword, but according to Algren Japan is created by the brave people. It means that in Japan there are so many people who have a strong and brave.
C. The differences of culture in the last samurai film.
American people like Algren use the low- context culture and Japanese people like Katsumoto use the high- context culture. In the last samurai film shows that when Algren says is directness, and Katsumoto is indirectness.

D. Mainstream Culture and individual Behavior in the last samurai film
In the last samurai film, the mainstream culture of Japanese appears when Katsumoto said that “an honor of Japanese man is when he dies in a war” it means that better to die than to live in disgrace. Moreover, there is also Bushido. It is the studies that hold by Samurai. They believe that sword (Katana) is a soul of Samurai. Bushido also helps to build a character of Japanese and to keep their culture in modern era.
Individual Behavior in the last samurai film
1. The Japanese usually get up early to serve themselves to make the perfect for their working. Different with American that usually get up late and not directly to work.
2. The Japanese like having togetherness and always in a group, but American like being individual.
3. The Japanese usually wear the sandals and when they want to enter the house, they usually waive their sandals, but American always wears shoes everywhere although they want to enter the house.

E. The stage of culture shock and adjustment process in the last samurai film
The step shock is like roller coaster, because the new comers will be in up condition or elation and down condition or depression.
1. A newcomer unfamiliar with the new culture like language, behavior, and habit. In this film shows that Nathan Algren was confused because the Cultural Shock about everything in Japan.
It was about Japanese language and culture. Thus, Algren used English to process communication in Japan. And sometimes, he just showed his body language when he walk with BOB (the guard that ordered by Katsumoto to company Algren wherever whenever he went). About the culture he also feels shock when he knows the behavior and the habit there every day.

Like his statement “I continue to live among a strange group. I was their prisoner, and then I cannot run away. I often feel like a stray dog or ignored unwelcome guest. Everyone was polite, all smiling and bowing. But behind their modesty, I feel pent up feelings. Those groups are interesting; since they wake they devote themselves for the perfection of their work. I’ve never seen that much discipline. I was surprised to learn that the word “Samurai” was meant to serve and Katsumoto believes he rebelled in the service of the Emperor. “This statement appear that Algren feel shock culture.
2. A newcomer tries to adjust with the new culture in this stage.
 Adjustment stage in the last film
After a newcomer feels shock culture, a newcomer becomes more familiar and comfortable with the new culture and the people. He/she tries to adjust and imitates with the situation like in the film.
 Algren tries to imitate the habit in Japan. He tries to know about the Japanese language. He also tries to know the culture like be a Samurai. He studies about how to use a sword.
 Acceptance stage in the last film
 Algren have used the Japanese language to communicated with the family that stayed with him, he also feel comfortable to eat the Japanese foods, moreover he was be a Samurai and use the Japanese culture like use the sword when he helped the Katsumoto’s family opposed the enemy.


CHAPTER IV
CONCLUSION
It is clear that The Last samurai is a film that describes about the differences culture between American cultures with Japanese cultures. That is shown clearly in this film. Then, we can conclude that every country has different culture and we can feel difficult to adjust It., above all when we live around people that have different culture with us. Therefore we must know the background of language and culture the new country before.

REFRENCES
Anshori, Salim. 2007. Cross-Cultural Understanding.