Based on Haruki Murakami’s novel of the same name & directed by Tran Anh Hung (I Come With The Rain), Norwegian Wood is set in Japan 1969, it follows the relationship between a college student and two women, which are different. The release date is slated for December 2010 in Japan.
Stills & the official synopsis:
****
Official synopsis:
“I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me.”
The melancholy tune and sentiment of this classic Beatles song seems to have taken the life of Toru Watanabe (Kenichi Matsuyama), who is similarly uncertain as to how he should view his relationships. At heart, a quiet and serious young Tokyo college student in 1969, Watanabe, is deeply devoted to his first love, Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi), a beautiful and introspective young woman. But their mutual passion is made by the tragic death of their best friend years before. Watanabe lives with the influence of death everywhere, while Naoko feels as if some integral part of her has been permanently lost. On the night of Naoko’s 20th birthday, they finally made love to each other. However, shortly thereafter Naoko decided to quit college and become a recluse. It is at that time Midori (Kiko Mizuhara) – a girl who is everything that Naoko is not !X outgoing, vivacious, supremely self-confident – marches into Watanabe!|s life and he has to choose between his future and his past.
Via: FortissimoFilms, Sohu, Official Website, KenichiOnline
{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
Je viens de me rendre compte que c’était justement le Murakami que je suis entrain de lire! Il s’appelle en français “La Ballade de l’impossible”. J’en suis à la moitié, justement, lorsque Watanabe se rend au centre de repos situé en montagne pour retrouver Naoko après sa disparition. Je suis tout emoustillé rien qu’à l’idée qu’il s’agit de l’adaptation de ce SUPERBE roman.
Moi, je suis content que cela n’ait rien avoir l’autre Norwegian Wood, le coréen. ^^ Haruki Murakami est bon soit dit en passant. Tiens, lorsque j’aurai terminé mes bouquins en attente, je me fais celui-la, courrant 2012 peut-être…
J’avais lu qu’au départ Tony Leung Chiu Wai devait tenir l’un des rôles. Dommage que cela ne se soit pas fait. Après, Tran Anh Hung je n’en suis pas fan. Ses films ne m’ont pas laissés un grand souvenir…
Tran Anh Hung est impressionnant. Qu’est-ce que tu racontes? Ce mec n’a “Cyclo” et fait Casey Jones Fuckin ‘manger Josh Hartnett sur le sol. Putain incroyable!
Moi je suis fan du cinéaste Tran Anh Hung et je continue à attendre la sortie de son dernier opus “I Come With The Rain” dans les salles en France.
I just began to read this novel. ^^
You’ll love it and read it again
I am so glad they decided to amke this into a movie. Just from the stills, i could tell that they did a great job witht he casting. The actor playing Toru definitely exhibits this complacent and peaceful look that is Toru, just a lost youth who has so much to offer, yet torn by the choices he must make in love. I definitely look forward to seeing this movie. I fucking love Murakami and his twisted plots. Next up……… The Wind-Up bird Chronicles
I just finished the book. Four suicides in one book is a bit much. At one point a character in the book, Reiko, just read my mind when she said to Toru, “Don’t tell me you’re trying to imitate that boy in Catcher in the Rye?” His “I don’t care” attitude almost screws up his chances for happpiness with Midori. But… I am looking forward to the movie, too.
Murakami Haruki must be one of the worst authors I ever came upon, and Norwegian Wood is one bad novel. There’s no point to anything, and why this is supposed to be a “love story” goes beyond me. Toru’s fucking around, and in the end a girl he never cares much about kills herself. Can’t find words to express my despise, but I guess a lot of Murakami junkies will watch it anyways.
“One of the worst authors”, “no point to anything”, “fucking around”? Might you suggest some more sophisticated literature?
Oh, and to the post’s author, thanks! Loved the book, curious about the film. Hope it’s not too cheesy…
@Guest I guess subtlety isn’t your forte then? I’ve known plenty who find Murakami boring, or hated his characters, but if you think that Toru didn’t care about Naoko then I don’t think you understood the novel at all, or really anything about the Japanese frame of mind.
I have always thought Toru Watanabe to be a but more boring and rounder. You know, looks a bit like Murakami himself. Matsuyama looks a bit too pretty and soft.
Funny to see that comment, because I was talking to a friend just before watching Nightmare Detective 2 and we agreed that actors are generally picked for these anti-hero roles are way too attractive. But in cases where the acting is strong, their looks can almost change completely.
Kenichi Matsuyama has impressed me by some of the eccentric roles he has chosen – he’s definitely outsider material. He can definitely work as a plainer young man than he is I think.
Wow can’t wait! Just seeing a live-version of Toru is giving me goosebumps! *chills*
@Guest: And it isn’t true that Toru is just *f*ucking around. As JK has stated, japanese do have a different frame of mind. Maybe this type of love story isn’t your genre, you probably have a simpler idea of love. You might just want to stick reading Nicholas Sparks then.
Yeah~ I almost can’t wait to see it. I love the book and will love the movie for sure : ) I also like the main actor and actress from their past movies.
A couple day ago, I thinking about repeat this book again and I found this site just now so I decided I’ll read it as soon as I get my place this evening ; )
Murakami explores sexual desires with such rawness and beauty. It grips the core of your guts and spew everything you’ve always believe out like a fountain.
Seriously! Naoko, Toru and Midori lives in all of us. Hurt, loss, youth, love, the theme is bluntly that. Yet so much more complex.
^ agreed. Its really a complex and sensitive matter. Murakami explores ‘fucking around’ poignantly and brilliantly. Sex probes deeper then love. Its about isolation, and the need for human warmth.
OH! and Tran Anh Hung is a brilliant director. He uses colours and expressionistic form with great genius. i think the movie will be a cult.
OMG, I’m soo excited about this movie. I love the book and to G. Mi for sure this movie will be a cult
Wow.I adored the book. I hope this doesn’t disappoint.
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