Film Review - Norwegian Wood

I was instantly captivated by the silence and oriental beauty of the trailer and posters for Norwegian Wood. Having studied Murakami's novel 'Kafka on the Shore' as an undergraduate attempting to write a dissertation about talking cats, every other novel by Murakami is somewhere towards the middle of my Aeneid-like 'to do' list; 'Norwegian Wood', however, has sat somewhere near the top for a number of years. I've since become a bit more obsessed with Kazuo Ishiguro, but if Haruki asks you, please deny all knowledge. Incidentally I couldn't find the UK poster but a google image search did throw up loads of cool ones I'd never seen, such as this little graphic-novel-cover-like gem:

So I was certain the film would be brilliant; all the previews had called it beautiful and the trailers gave me no reason to think otherwise. Once the film started I agreed with them, of course. The film is incrediby tastefully and artfully shot, with subtle but arresting images in the background of Japan's thorny transition from the sixties to the seventies. The backdrop provides a suitable climate of uncertainty and ennui (one of my favourite subjects in film and literature - get me) for a film which explores, in some depth, how we deal with relationships and the life events which unexpectedly inform their construction. The beauty is cut short a few minutes in by a slow, graphic (but bloodless) suicide scene which sets the tone for the rest of the film. From thereon it follows Watanabe, the best friend of dead teenager Kizuki, as he embarks on a disjointed affair with Kizuki's girlfriend, Naoko. They are apart for most of the film, while she attempts to deal with Kizuki's death, during which time Watanabe studies and meets another girl, Midori. The two interlinked plots combine intricately and effectively, leaving just enough room for speculation and for a feeling of great satisfaction when they tie themselves together in a bow at the film's conclusion.

Plot and beauty aside, though, Norwegian Wood is not an uplifting film. I love a depressing film or book as much as the next man in a check shirt with a bad haircut, but Norwegian Wood was just a little too much. Its silence, contrasted with surprisingly lengthy and graphic sex scenes and long periods of animated, soulful weeping got to me a little bit. I usually find myself philosophical at the end of such cathartic films but was left feeling empty and absent, which I think is largely due to the film's slow, Waiting-for-Godot pace. I would still, however, highly recommend it and believe it is worth a watch. I probably wouldn't, however, watch it again.

Incidentally I saw it at the HMV Curzon in Wimbeldon which was a surprisingly beautiful little arty cinema and only a pound or so more for the ticket than your average Odeon or Cineworld. If you're ever near South London I'd highly recommend it.