Norwegian Wood - timeless film by Tran Anh Hung
I’ve seen this film at least four times now and it finally held its theatrical release in America. It has never disappointed and was so thoroughly satisfying on the big screen. I can’t encourage you enough to go see it. I almost want to go back again to support it. With a complex sexual plot by Japan’s premiere novelist Haruki Murakami paired with the amazing sensitivity of Vietnamese Director Tran Anh Hung, gorgeous casting of Japanese newbies, cinematography by a Chinese collaborator and soundtrack by Jonny Greenwood it’s a global strength of all things simmering, narrative, aesthetically oozing and potent.
Each character is flawed, complex and humanly forgiving. You can find a bit of yourself in each one. The sounds of CAN in the rainy scenes are so heartbreaking. I loved this choice for the score amplified by incorporated “live” sounds by kids in the dormitory playing instruments and Greenwoods powerful markings in the film. The power of the wind in certain scenes is a fiercely beautiful character as well as each well picked set piece and costume that perfectly added to the mise en scene set in the 70’s. Imagine all that perfect styling of Tokyo in the 70’s (if you’ve been there, you know what I mean).
Go see Norwegian Wood before it’s gone from cinemas. A lush experience that will leave you hopeful for cinema today.
