Norwegian Wood
Norwegian Wood

Norwegian Wood

2010Movie133 minJapanese

Toru recalls his life in the 1960s, when his friend Kizuki killed himself and he grew close to Naoko, Kizuki's girlfriend, and another woman, the outgoing, lively Midori.

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Insights

IMDb6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes40%
Metacritic54/100
Google Users63%
Director: Tran Anh HungGenres: Drama, Romance, Music

Plot Summary

In 1960s Tokyo, Watanabe Toru navigates the complexities of love and loss after the suicide of his best friend. He finds solace and connection with Naoko, the girlfriend of his deceased friend, but their relationship is fraught with emotional turmoil and grief. As they grow closer, they both struggle to move forward and find a way to cope with their past traumas.

Critical Reception

Norwegian Wood received mixed reviews. While praised for its visual beauty and atmospheric mood, many critics found the film to be slow-paced and emotionally distant, failing to fully capture the depth of Murakami's novel. Performances were generally well-received, but the adaptation's narrative choices left some audiences and critics wanting more.

What Reviewers Say

  • Visually stunning and atmospherically rich, but can feel sluggish.
  • The film struggles to translate the novel's introspective depth to the screen.
  • Performances are commendable, particularly from the lead actors.

Google audience: Audiences appreciated the film's aesthetic qualities and the emotional portrayal of grief and young love. However, some viewers found the pacing too slow and felt the story lacked a strong narrative drive, making it a challenging watch for those unfamiliar with the source material.

Awards & Accolades

Screened at the 77th Venice International Film Festival.

Fun Fact

The film's soundtrack features original music composed by Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, who was inspired by the novel itself.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
Alunauwie

Alunauwie

Norwegian Wood tenderly portrays grief and emotional survival after loss, following Toru as he navigates trauma, memory, and complicated bonds with Naoko and Midori. Through restrained performances and symbolic storytelling, the film captur...