Norwegian Wood Adaptation

I feel like any attempt to place Murakami's writing into cinematic adaptation may fall flat at times. Especially given the plot of Norwegian Wood, which is has a very minimal plot line and relies heavily on Toru's inner dialogue. I felt about this movie similar to how I reacted to Drive my Car, a movie that on its own is fine, but that leaves out so many significant details or just altogether changes them. I find Murakami's writing to be a means of escape, you get so caught up in his character's inner turmoil that you're able to forget your own, and although this is the effect that a movie tends to have on me, I completed missed that feeling watching this adaptation. 

I think much of the enjoyment I derive from the novel is the complexities Murakami lends to his three female leads. While Naoko and Midori are consistent character wise in the films adaptation, I didn't find their characters to be as compelling. Midori lacked a bit of the grit I felt she had in the novel. Then in terms of Reiko's backstory, there was very little depicted of her, which I feel is an integral part of the novel's plot line that was just disregarded in the movie. Then, Naoko and Toru's love story portrayal felt overly erotic and forced, gimmicky, and a little too much for my taste. Their whole dynamic reminded me of Twilight, which I feel is a bit misrepresentative of Murakami's writing. Nevertheless, the movie was definitely very pretty with really nice shots and a great soundtrack (thank you Jonny Greenwood), and I'm sure the adaptation was an honest attempt at adapting a writing style not very conducive to film. 

- Gia