If you’re looking for a film that allows you to just sit back, relax, turn your brain off and needs no effort to watch than Norwegian Wood certainly isn’t for you. This cinematic masterpiece requires its audience to be switched on from start to end, and if you are willing to take on the challenge then the prize is the reward of seeing one of the most beautiful Asian films ever made.
Based on Haruki Murakami’s novel Norwegian Wood is set in the 1960s and tells the story of Toru Watanabe (Usagi Drop, My Back Pages) who grew up with his best friend, Kizuki (Kiebetsu, Tada’s Do-It-All House) and Kizuki’s girlfriend, Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi – Ogawa No Hotori, Sayonara Robinson Kuruso). However, things all change when Kizuki commits suicide. Now Watanabe finds himself at uni in a changing world and attracted to Naoko. But as Naoko’s mental health declines and she goes to live at a ‘retreat’ Watanabe must decide whether he will wait for the girl he loves or move on with the fresh-faced, Midori (Kiko Mizuhara – newcomer) or even follow in the womanizing ways of his new friend.
Director, Anh Hung Tran (I Come With The Rain, Vertical Ray Of The Sun) takes on a real challenge with Norwegian Wood, the first major hurdle being the fact that Tran doesn’t speak Japanese – the language that the film is shot in. However, he overcomes this hurdle and alongside Director of Photography, Ping Bin Lee has managed to create a beautiful looking film that totally captivates its audience. The sensational visuals only enhance a story that deserves the audience’s full attention. And despite the fact that most of the male characters are sexist Tran manages to show them in the best light possible, no mean feat at all.
The cast of Norwegian Wood all put in brilliant performances and only make watching the film even better. The standout is Rinko Kikuchi who takes on the challenging role of Naoko and pulls it off brilliantly. Seriously, if this was a Hollywood film then people would all be saying that Kikuchi was a sure-thing for an Oscar nomination. Her performance is believable and captivating and she is the perfect on-screen partner for Ken’ichi Matsuyama who also puts in a credible performance.
Fans of Asian cinema rejoice as Norwegian Wood is one of the best films to surface from the region for quite a long time. The film may be a difficult watch for some but it is well worth it. If this film were a painting it would be hanging in one of the world’s top galleries.
Year: 2010
Director: Anh Hung Tran
Stars: Ken’ichi Matsuyama, Rinko Kikuchi
Classification: MA15+
Runtime: 133 mins
Rating: 
Out on DVd/Blu-Ray 19th April 2012