A lyrical film based on Haruki Murakami’s bestselling novel set in Japan in the 1960s. Kenichi Matsuyama stars as Toru Watanabe, a student whose best friend Kizuki commits suicide. Some months later, Toru and Kizuki’s girlfriend Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi) get together, both still scarred, and tentatively make love.
This brings Naoko close to a nervous breakdown and she heads into the mountains to heal herself. As the Beatles’ song Norwegian Wood plays, melancholy scenes unfold in lush landscapes, but the film lacks the ironic vigor of the book. Although atmospheric, the movie is slightly milquetoast.
Anh Hung Tran, 15 (133min)