Norwegian Wood (6.22.11)

[JTStarkiller]

So according to YesAsia, the complete edition of Anh Hung Tran's Norwegian Wood adaptation is set to be released on June 22.

http://www.yesasia.com/global/norweg...0-en/info.html

I've been dying to see this film ever since last year. It's my absolute favorite novel, and it's a shame it still hasn't been released in the US. Site says only Japanese subtitles, which is disappointing, but here's to hoping it has English as well.

[celticmoon]

Well, considering that the film was released in theaters (or "cinemas," as they would call it) in the UK in March, there'll probably be a UK release of the Blu-ray by the end of summer or at the latest by the end of the year. There would surely be English subtitles then.

I've never read the novel, but considering how huge it is, the reaction to the film in Japan seemed pretty underwhelming to me. I mean, it seems like it just kinda got released without much fanfare. Reviews seem mixed as well, for both fans of the novel and non-fans.

[JTStarkiller]

Indeed, but the disc would then have to be region free to work in my Region 1 player. The Japanese version will already work.

I also heard some underwhelming things about the film, but I've still got high hopes for it.

[jcphoenix]

I saw this at the Toronto Film Fest and dug it a lot (for the record, I've only read one Murakami book and it was Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, not this one). It's a film that's grown on me more on reflection. I had read mixed things from Venice before I saw it, and it will be a divisive picture for sure but it ended up surprising me in a good way.

I've been dying for another watch and it looks like I may have to import the UK copy as I doubt it'll be coming out on blu-ray in North America anytime soon.

My thoughts from right after I first saw the film:

Norwegian Wood, by contrast, is a film which, despite some minor flaws, is dense with lyrical beauty and examines the gap between love and sex with a perceptive eye. It may be entirely too long and suffocatingly emotional for some, but the film has an honesty in its look at relationships that hits hard.

Based off the widely read book by Haruki Murakami, Tran Anh Hung's film is a coming-of-age story narrated by the main character, Watanabe (Ken'ichi Matsunaya) His best friend Kizuna commits suicide, leaving behind a girlfriend, Naoki (Rinko Kikuchi) who goes into severe depression and whom Watanabe falls in love with, despite her emotional turmoil. Simultaneously, a charismatic young woman, Midori (Kiko Mitsuhara), injects herself into his life.

Norwegian Wood is unusual in the way it lingers where other narratives would cut, leaving the viewer to explore Watanabe's relationships from a focus on sex and its ramifications, rather than love. While it has a bit of an episodic feel to it (no doubt due to the nature of adapting a book), the film builds its case and its power scene by scene, block by block so that it feels like a complete and exhaustive look into the mindsets of young people in love (or what they think is love) and lust.

It balances itself through the contrasts between Watanabe's relationship with the disturbed Naoki as well as the vibrant Midori. The development of all three characters feels honest and realistic throughout which allows the viewer to observe this triangle with a critical eye and see the repercussions it has on Watanabe.

One of the many highlights of the film is its observance of the relationship between one of Watanabe's friends, Nagasawa and his girlfriend Hatsumi. Hatsumi is aware that Nagasawa is cheating on her but continues to stay with him. In a heartbreaking dinner scene, she questions Watanabe's (and all men in general) need for sex despite his love for Naoki as Nagasawa looks on, indifferent to her feelings.

Jonny Greenwood scores the more lyrical shots with a beautiful guitar sound that could be an alternate introduction to Radiohead's Street Spirit (Fade Out). When necessary, his score has a discordant strength that may be overwrought to some but feels appropriate for the inner turmoil of the characters. It is as beautifully violent as the feelings they have, underscoring the dangers of their drowning obsessions with love and how it can affect them in such profoundly disturbing ways. By the same token, the film creates a violent poeticism in its gorgeous look and the camera movements (notably in the walking conversation shots), bringing the viewer into the world of these characters and their drowning obsessions but never leaving us adrift on the tidal waves that are their emotions.

[Strop]

Any more news on this title? I haven't seen this yet (nor read the book) but would be interested in getting the complete edition (in region B format). Actually, has the complete edition been reviewed anywhere? I think I read somewhere that the original edition of this film left out quite a bit from the novel, a bit too much, making it a little hard to follow. I was hoping the extended edition provides a more satisfying experience.