Adaptations of the celebrated Japanese writer Haruki Murakami’s novels and short stories into live-action films, have always generated a mixed bag of outcomes; their success – in my opinion – being often inversely proportional to their adherence to the original source material. To mention some, “Tony Takitani” by Jun Ichikawa, “Hanalei Bay” by Daishi Matsunaga”, “Burning” by Lee Chang-dong and the most recent “Drive My Car” by Ryusuke Hamaguchi. The author’s rich universe, fluctuating between magical realism, mundanity and straight-out surrealism, makes visual representation an arduous enterprise. For his ambitious animated feature film debut, “Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman”, composer, screenwriter, and animator Pierre Földes draws inspiration from several Murakami’s short stories, to create his own tale about how trauma can open the doors of perception. The film is an international coproduction that involves France, Holland, Luxemburg and Canada, and, so far, has won the Jury Distinction in the Best...
- 2/9/2023
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
When it was published in 1987, “Norwegian Wood” catapulted Japanese author, Haruki Murakami to fame, especially among Japanese youths. Due to the story having to do with the emotions of youth, the vicissitudes in adolescence as well as the quintessential coming-to-terms with society’s demands, it resonated with the very same young people the book was depicting. Ironically, such a rise to fame upset Murakami and caused him to relocate to America. Since then, Murakami has seen increasing popularity with time. Many of his books have been translated to various languages and some of his works such as “Hear the Wind Sing” (1979), “Tony Takitani” (1990) and the source of this review “Norwegian Wood” (1987) have been adapted into films.
The book borrows its name from a 1965 song by The Beatles, which was originally titled “Norwegian Wood (The Bird has Flown)”. It was referenced in the first scene when Toru Watanabe arrives in West Hamburg,...
The book borrows its name from a 1965 song by The Beatles, which was originally titled “Norwegian Wood (The Bird has Flown)”. It was referenced in the first scene when Toru Watanabe arrives in West Hamburg,...
- 4/21/2020
- by Cheong Eldrick
- AsianMoviePulse
Bold is the filmmaker who would tackle the prose of cult novelist Haruki Murakami. Though Jun Ichikawa found success adapting the short story "Tony Takitani," most of Murakami's work is desolate and blackly humorous, centered on characters struggling with loneliness in a politically-troubled, often surreal world. That didn't stop Tran Anh Hung, the director of "The Scent Of Green Papaya," who brings us his long-in-the-works adaptation of the moody novel "Norwegian Wood." Set in Japan during the late sixties, "Norwegian Wood" follows Toru (Kenichi Matsuyama), a young man about to go to college despite recently losing his best friend to suicide. However, he gives his heart to his late friend's ex, a decision that throws his life into turmoil further when he meets another girl, as he is forced to make the biggest decision of his life. While "Norwegian Wood" has surfaced in other countries, it makes its domestic debut.
- 1/5/2012
- The Playlist
Norwegian Wood
Written by by Haruki Murakami and Anh Hung Tran
Directed by Anh Hung Tran
2010, Japan
All the truly great authors are dead. That may be a belittling statement to the contemporary literary world, but it’s a statement that isn’t without foundation. Our age is one of endless celebrity autobiographies and self help books rather than one of outstanding literary voices. Of course they are exceptions, which include Haruki Murakami, who has earned comparison to the likes of Franz Kafka and Thomas Pynchon. What makes his work so profound is the way in which he marries surrealist fantasy with the monotony of the everyday.
In this age of cross-media adaptations and endless remakes, it’s shocking that someone with such vision has had limited exposure on the big screen, with only Tony Takitani (based on a short story of the same name) on which to call. The...
Written by by Haruki Murakami and Anh Hung Tran
Directed by Anh Hung Tran
2010, Japan
All the truly great authors are dead. That may be a belittling statement to the contemporary literary world, but it’s a statement that isn’t without foundation. Our age is one of endless celebrity autobiographies and self help books rather than one of outstanding literary voices. Of course they are exceptions, which include Haruki Murakami, who has earned comparison to the likes of Franz Kafka and Thomas Pynchon. What makes his work so profound is the way in which he marries surrealist fantasy with the monotony of the everyday.
In this age of cross-media adaptations and endless remakes, it’s shocking that someone with such vision has had limited exposure on the big screen, with only Tony Takitani (based on a short story of the same name) on which to call. The...
- 9/23/2011
- by Robert Simpson
- SoundOnSight
Carlos Cuarón, brother of director Alfonso Cuarón, co-writer of Y Tu Mamá También and writer/director of Rudo Y Cursi, has directed a new short film. The Second Bakery Attack is based on the story of the same name by Japanese author Haruki Murakami, and stands as one of a very few adaptations of the author's works. The film stars Kirsten Dunst and Brian Geraghty, and these are the first stills. Stills were found on Tumblr [1] (via The Playlist [2]) and the director told CNN [3], It's short, but there's meticulous attention to detail just like a Murakami story! ...To me, Murakami's works are universal, and at the same time very Japanese. This is what makes the project so intriguing for me -- I did set the story in the United States but the tone of the conversations, the situation … somehow it's very Tokyo. The Short Shorts Film Festival synpopsizes the film...
- 11/29/2010
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
Big, big news here courtesy of Jason Gray. Though he is still guiding his dark thriller I Come With The Rain - check the archive for the stunning promo reel - through the post-production process, French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung is already planning his next project, and what a project it will be. The director of Cyclo and A Vertical Ray of the Sun will next be traveling to Japan to direct a Japanese language adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood.
Now, Murakami is pretty much a living legend in the literary world, and deservedly so. His work has a drifting, otherworldly quality to it that often make it read like cinema but Murakami has been very protective of his words up until now, having allowed only one of his works to ever be adapted for the screen - a short story titled Tony Takitani - despite multiple offers.
Now, Murakami is pretty much a living legend in the literary world, and deservedly so. His work has a drifting, otherworldly quality to it that often make it read like cinema but Murakami has been very protective of his words up until now, having allowed only one of his works to ever be adapted for the screen - a short story titled Tony Takitani - despite multiple offers.
- 7/31/2008
- by Todd Brown
- Screen Anarchy
- Excuse me while I mop up my brains because my head just went kaboom. Jason Gray of Screen Daily broke word today that Franco-Vietnamese auteur Anh Hung Tran will adapt world-renowned Japanese author Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood for the big screen. First published in 1987, the novel is a nostalgic rumination told through the eyes of college student Toru, a listless drama major who floats through life and relationships in a haze of melancholy. Set in the turbulent ‘60s, when political and social unrest was the order of the day, Murakami takes a hard view on the period as he juxtaposes Toru’s disengaged nature against largely misguided student movement. 8.7 million copies have been sold in Japan alone and it has been translated in 36 languages. Known for his emotionally complex tales of desire and loss, Murakami, who’s style is heavily influenced by the West, is Japan’s most highly regarded author.
- 7/31/2008
- IONCINEMA.com
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