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Norwegian Wood

Norwegian Wood

Noruwei No Mori

Tran Anh Hung

  • Country: Japan
  • Year: 2010
  • Language: Japanese
  • Producer: Shinji Ogawa
  • Executive Producer: Masao Teshima, Chihiro Kameyama
  • Screenplay: Tran Anh Hung, based on the novel by Haruki Murakami
  • Runtime: 133
  • Programmes:

Adapted from Haruki Murakami's bestselling novel. Watanabe, a quiet and serious college student, becomes deeply devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman with whom he shares the tragedy of their best friend’s death. When Naoko suddenly disappears, Midori, an outgoing, vivacious and supremely self-confident girl marches into Watanabe's life. The film stars Kenichi Matsuyama, Rinko Kikuchi and Kiko Mizuhara.

Adaptation,  Japan,  Drama,  Romance

screening times

    • Sunday September 12
    • 9:30:00 PM
    • AMC 7
    • Tuesday September 14
    • 3:30:00 PM
    • AMC 7
    • Saturday September 18
    • 9:00:00 AM
    • AMC 7

Note: indicates Premium Screening.

official description

Adapting Haruki Murakami’s breakthrough novel with the romantic melancholy of the Beatles song that gave it its name, Norwegian Wood is a passionate story of nostalgia, loss and awakening sexuality.

Childhood friends Watanabe (Kenichi Matsuyama) and Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi) are reunited in Tokyo in 1969 when they meet by chance at a museum. Their friendship is rekindled, but they are both haunted by a shared tragedy that they would prefer remain shrouded in distant memory. As their affections for each other begin to grow, so too does the spectre of the past. The more their love blossoms, the more the shared history that unites them threatens to tear them apart.

Meanwhile, Tokyo is awash with the spirit of political protest. Watanabe is both intrigued by the changing social mores and a bit skeptical. Following the lead of bon vivant Nagasawa (Tetsuji Tamayama), he is lured into a new world of sexual freedom. Taken on a seductive journey through after-hours Tokyo – replete with sex, debauchery and rock and roll – Watanabe meets the beguiling Midori (Kiko Mizuhara), an outspoken and mysterious young woman. Captivated by all she represents, Watanabe’s growing interest in Midori begins to threaten his future with Naoko, forcing him to choose between his passion and his principles.

Letting his camera linger on the uncertainties of subtext and innuendo, Tran distills the idiosyncrasies of different personalities and the intimacies that can flourish between two people. As the two lovers caught up in the intoxicating richness of the era, Matsuyama and Kikuchi deliver arresting performances, striking exactly the right chord between vulnerability and conviction and creating characters that are flawed, stubborn, guileless and, ultimately, powerful. A bittersweet tale full of beauty and pathos, Norwegian Wood illuminates the uncertain passage from innocence to maturity.

Giovanna Fulvi

director bio

Tran Anh Hung was born in Seno, Laos. He studied at the École Louis Lumière in France, where he made two short films: La femme mariée de Nam Xuong (87) and La pierre de l’attente (91). He was awarded the Camera d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival for his directorial debut, The Scent of Green Papaya (93). His other films include Cyclo (95), The Vertical Ray of the Sun (00), I Come with the Rain (09) and Norwegian Wood (10).

full credits

Principal Cast: Kenichi Matsuyama, Rinko Kikuchi, Kiko Mizuhara
Producer: Shinji Ogawa
Executive Producer: Masao Teshima, Chihiro Kameyama
Cinematographer: Mark Lee Ping Bin
Editor: Mario Battistel
Sound: Tomoharu Urata
Music: Jonny Greenwood
Production Designer: Yên-Khê Luguern, Norifumi Ataka
   
International Sales Agent: Fortissimo Films
Production Company: Asmik Ace Entertainment
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