For one my classes, international business, I saw a very interesting and funny movie. The movie is called "Gung Ho". It is about a US car factory that went bankrupt. A town representative goes to a big multinational in Japan, pleading for them to buy the plant and start production again.

One of the first scenes is already hilarious, clearly showing differences between the American and Japanese culture. A Japanese manager is obliged to take a management course and is screaming at the top of his longs, that he is sorry for everything, he is stupid, he is incompetent and very obedient. Although obviously a ritual, the merican guy casually walks in, padding the Japanses manager on the back and asks where he can find the Board of Management. He does not recognize how out of place he is or the ritual that he just disturbed.

The entire movie is filled with these kind of misunderstandings. It is funny at times but also a good illustration (although exxagarated) of problems when doing international business.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZS1rawoWB4