Norwegian Wood
Anh Hung Tran | Japan | 2010
133 min
Norwegian Wood is a sensual drama revolving around a death. Set in Japan, during the tumultuous civil unrest of the 60’s, it is the story of Toru Watanabe, his best friend Kizuki and Kizuki’s soulmate and girlfriend Naoko. In the films opening moments, Kizuki commits suicide, and the remainder of the film focuses on how Toru and Naoko, who then become lovers, deal with its difficult consequences.
Based on a popular Japanese novel by Haruki Murakami, the film’s title is the Beatle’s song of the same name and a favourite of Naoko’s. Toru’s love for Naoko stems from the closeness of the two following their friend’s death, but the memory of Kizuki continues to linger until it becomes the proverbial elephant in the room in their relationship. Not able to take things much further, and with Naoko’s delicate mental stability slowly deteriorating, Toru finds companionship in a college classmate, Midori, while Naoko enlists for help in a secluded sanatorium. Though separated, the two keep in touch but Toru is neither able to move on nor commit and his attempts at moving ahead with either woman forms the remainder of the film.
The story, gorgeously shot by director Anh Hung Tran, is unable for the most part to convey why Toru longs for Naoko. At times it seems it is borne out of a sense of duty for his best friend, and at other times it feels like genuine love, but the film never shows us enough of Kizuki with Toru, or even Toru with Naoko for either of these reasons to have much conviction. Eternally morose, the film seems to get its fuel from the misery of its main characters, who discuss their sexuality with frank, sometimes perverted enthusiasm. The director’s heavy-handed treatment of the delicate physical and emotional baggage that everyone carries strains under the weight of its own self importance. Johnny Greenwood’s score is also jarring in the way the shrill high notes underscore the importance of key scenes, but this interferes, rather than enhances the viewing experience. Though the film ends in the only way logically possible, it still leaves you wanting more out of it.
