Norwegian Wood (Original title: Noruwei no Mori) | 2010 | 2h 13m
Genre: Drama / Romance | Country: Japan
Director: Anh Hung Tran | Writers: Haruki Murakami, Anh Hung Tran
Cast: Ken'ichi Matsuyama, Rinko Kikuchi, Kiko Mizuhara
IMDB: 6.3
My Rate: 8/10
Norwegian Wood tells the story of Toru, a college student trying to move on after losing his best friend, Kizuki. His life is shaken again when he finds himself caught between memories of the past with Naoko—Kizuki’s girlfriend—and the hope of the future represented by Midori, forcing him to choose a path in life that is never easy.
Warning:
Sex scenes, nudity, sensual content, smoking, alcohol, and strong languageSynopsis:
Toru
loses his best friend, Kizuki, whose death leaves a deep wound for both him and
Naoko, Kizuki’s girlfriend. In an attempt to move on, Toru leaves his hometown
and moves to Tokyo to continue his studies, unaware that fate will reunite him
with Naoko.
The
closeness between Toru and Naoko slowly grows, even though both choose to avoid
talking about Kizuki. After spending the night together on Naoko’s 20th
birthday, Naoko suddenly disappears and chooses to live in a sanitarium in
Kyoto, as the buried grief comes crashing back.
Despite
being shaken, Toru continues trying to maintain his relationship with Naoko. At
the same time, Midori enters his life—offering a form of love that feels more
alive and open. Even though Midori already has a boyfriend and understands
Toru’s situation, feelings between them grow in ways that can’t be avoided.
Will
Toru stay with a love bound by loss, or step toward a future that is far from
certain?
Review:
Death
is unavoidable, and it often leaves wounds that are difficult to
heal—especially when that death comes from a deliberate choice. Through Norwegian
Wood, a film adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s novel, this buried grief is
brought to the surface in a quiet and deeply personal way.
The
story opens with a warm, happy atmosphere, showing relationships that seem
perfect on the surface. That calm is shattered the moment Kizuki chooses to end
his life. Without noise or dramatics, the scene is presented in painful
silence.
Toru,
as the main character, then appears with a noticeable emotional shift. His
escape into a new life becomes the focus, until the past returns in the form of
Naoko—not as sweet nostalgia, but as an unhealed wound.
The
closeness between Toru and Naoko is built not on love, but on shared grief and
trauma. They understand each other without needing many words. Yet this
closeness becomes the doorway to deeper inner conflict.
The
conflict grows stronger with the presence of Midori, who brings her own energy
and life wounds. Toru’s closeness with Midori offers real comfort, but also
unavoidable guilt, placing him at a painful emotional crossroads.
The
resolution is delivered calmly and maturely. Each character finds their own way
to face grief, even if not all of them end in happiness. Still, within those
differences, the film offers a quiet, unspoken sense of peace.
One
of the film’s weaknesses lies in its pacing, which at times feels uneven. The
fairly quick transitions between scenes make the story feel slightly
disjointed, though not enough to damage the overall narrative.
The
real strength of Norwegian Wood lies in what is left unsaid. Symbols,
dialogue, and silence are used to convey emotion in a more meaningful way. The
intimate scenes are not presented erotically, but as a need to survive and to
feel alive. The symbol of the wound on Toru’s hand becomes one of the most
memorable moments, representing trauma he has long kept inside until he finally
dares to open it—a sign that he is beginning to make peace with himself.
Some
viewers may feel uncomfortable with how casually the characters engage in
vulgar conversations. However, this can also be read as a form of closeness
without boundaries—the kind of conversation that only happens when two people
are deeply intimate and open with each other.
The
performances feel natural and restrained, not only from the main cast but also
the supporting characters. In its quietness, the film manages to deliver
emotion powerfully, supported by camera movement, music, and timing that are
executed very well.
In
the end, Norwegian Wood is not just a film about loss, but about how
people choose to live after that loss happens. It’s a quiet story that doesn’t
offer clear answers, but gives space for viewers to feel, understand, and
maybe—make peace.
Memorable Scene:
Hatsumi
feels hurt by the way Nagasawa treats their relationship as if it’s just a
game. Instead of expressing her anger directly, she throws a sarcastic question
at Toru—an answer that turns into a bitter reflection on commitment, loyalty,
and her place in the relationship.
This
scene highlights the difference in how men and women often view loyalty. For
some men, physical relationships without emotional involvement are not
considered betrayal, while for women, those actions still hurt because they
diminish the value and sanctity of a relationship. In the end, the scene
reminds us that loyalty isn’t about negotiable boundaries, but about the
awareness not to hurt someone—even when we believe we’ve done nothing wrong.
Memorable Dialogue:
“There is nothing that can truly heal the pain of losing someone you love”
Ending:
CliffhangerRecommendation:
Worth to Watch(Aluna)
 – Wounds That Never Truly Heal){kind=link}
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