Norwegian Wood

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Movie: Norwegian Wood
Romaji: Noruwei no Mori
Japanese: ノルウェイの森
Director: Anh Hung Tran
Writer: Haruki Murakami (novel), Anh Hung Tran
Producer: Chihiro Kameyama, Shinji Ogawa
Cinematographer: Pin Bing Lee
Assistant Director: Shozo Katashima
World Premiere: September 2, 2010 (Venice Film Festival)
Release Date: December 11, 2010
Runtime: 128 min.
Genre: Period-1960 / Romance / Youth
Production Company: Asmik Ace Entertainment, Toho, Fuji TV
Distributor: Toho
Language: Japanese
Country: Japan

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Set in the 1960's, high school student Toru Watanabe (Kenichi Matsuyama) loses his only friend Kizuki (Kengo Kora) after he commits suicide. Toru, now looking for a new life, enters a university in Tokyo. By chance, Toru meets Kizuki's ex-girlfriend Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi) in the university. They grow close because they both share the same loss.

As Toru and Naoko grow even closer, Naoko's sense of loss also grows. After Naoko's 20th birthday, she leaves for a sanitarium in Kyoto. Watanabe, devastated by the situation, meets pure-hearted Midori (Kiko Mizuhara) during the spring semester. Midori looks like a small animal that just came into the world ...

Notes

Based on novel "Noruwei no Mori" by Haruki Murakami (first published September 4, 1987 by Kodansha).

Cast



Kenichi Matsuyama	Rinko Kikuchi	Kiko Mizuhara
Toru Watanabe	Naoko	Midori Kobayashi



Tetsuji Tamayama	Kengo Kora	Reika Kirishima	Eriko Hatsune
Nagasawa	Kizuki	Reiko	Hatsumi



Tokio Emoto	Shigesato Itoi	Haruomi Hosono	Yukihiro Takahashi
Tai Totsugeki	Theatre professor	Record shop owner	Gatekeeper

Additional Cast Members:

Izumi Hirasawa - Midori Kobayashi's friend
Yuki Ito
Kentaro Tamura
Yuichi Ito - Tea Room Ginza staff

Trailers

Image Gallery

Film Festivals

2010 (67th) Venice Film Festival - September 1-11 - Venezia 67 (Competition) *World Premiere
2010 (35th) Toronto International Film Festival - September 9-19 - Special Presentations *North American Premiere
2011 (13th) Deauville Asian Film Festival - March 9 - 13, 2011 - The Features Competition *French Premiere
2011 (3rd) Pan-Asia Film Festival - March 1-13, 2011 *UK Premiere
2011 (9th) Reggio Emilia: Asian Film Festival - June 11-18, 2011 - Out of Competition
2011 (12th) San Diego Asian Film Festival - October 20 - 28, 2011 - Asian Horizons
2012 (18th) Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema - February 14-21, 2012 - Francophonie d’Asie : Tran Anh Hung
2014 (38th) Montreal World Film Festival - August 21-September 1, 2014 - Tributes

Awards

"Best Cinematography" - 2011 (5th) Asian Film Awards - March 21, 2011

Comments

Sean Dec 28 2021 1:49 pm The acting is really flat. Kikuchi is a terrific actress but miscast here as Naoko.

Some of the atmosphere of the period is well captured (nice art direction) but the subdued tone of the book is gone -the director has gone for impact or false elegance (compare the scene in the book where Watanabe visits the bookstore for lunch with Midori; completely different vibe).

Billie Nov 24 2020 4:12 am Kenichi was awesome as always, but I don't think this role fits him that much. The girl who portrayed Midori isn't that suitable either. I haven't read the book yet, but usually, a movie spoils the book's plot and characters. Speaking in experience right now

Dorky May 29 2016 8:50 pm I have a request; please change the poster to this movie with Naoko and Toru, please! :(( One of my all time favorite movie though it left me feeling depressed for weeks after the first time watching it. T__T

vmarlany Dec 22 2014 10:50 am well, i have read the book, but i haven't watch the movie. where the site to watch this movie? i want to watch it.

shin18 Mar 03 2014 1:09 pm If I hadn't read the book, the movie would be very confusing for me. But still, I must say, it was good. :)

June May 05 2013 4:30 am Though Kenichi is good as the role of Toru, the one playing Midori is not satisfiable! She is not suitable for that character! The film will be better if the details of the character like their way of speaking or their way of dressing are considered! Anyway the film is not as good as..ah no.. the film ruins the theme of novel is the real fact!!!

Jillian Apr 10 2012 4:39 pm Totally obsessed with the book of this at the moment...Haruki Murakami is a fantastic artist. I am totally looking forward to watching this soon...I actually bought both the movie and book together. The novel is absolutely beautiful so I'm totally looking forward to this! Kenichi Matsuyama is totally perfect for Toru, i think. & I think that Kiko Mizuhara will make a fantastic Midori. But I'm not too sure about Rinko Kikuchi....lol XD I totally pictured Naoko different. In fact, weirdly I pictured her more like Utada Hikaru. LOL. I think that Reika Kirishima will do lovely as Reiko!! Exactly how I thought of Reiko to look. Totally looking forward to this movie. Love Murakami's works!!

Alex Oct 18 2011 12:20 pm The strangest thing I've seen I think cinematic wise.. I had to watch it with all my classfriends for Japanese studies... we laughed ALL the way through it even though it's supposidly serious but come on we had no warning of what we would 'see' literally.

James Davison Jun 01 2011 7:03 am Obsessed at the moment with this film. Looks excellent defiantly a must-see! :><:

Ned Feb 19 2011 7:32 am Yesss finally found out it's going to be shown in cinemas in the UK on March 11th 2011 :D Best Year Ever ^^~

Royce Jan 13 2011 9:43 pm When is the US release date going to be? I can't wait to see it and I can't fly to Japan. Someone must know but I can't find it anywhere online.

hada Dec 25 2010 10:22 pm i very like ken'ichi matsuyama,, i can't wait for watch the movie... noruwein no mori good.... ^^

robtok82 Nov 09 2010 4:58 pm The book was so good...Can't wait for the movie...the cast is awesome...

marian Aug 20 2010 10:48 pm kenichi matsuyama ur so cute ever!!!

Yuki Jul 28 2010 1:40 pm OMG!!!!! I can'tt waitt till it's releasedd !!! :D xxx I lovedd the novell soo much (I love all of Murakami's books) xxx Really hoping the movie will be as intriguing as the novel ♥ xxx

Norwegian Wood

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Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Notes

Cast

Trailers

Image Gallery

Film Festivals

Awards

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