The Story
A story of love and heartbreak in a time of global instability.
Published in 1987 and since translated into 33 languages, NORWEGIAN WOOD is a story of loss and heartbreak in a time of global instability. Haruki Murakami's bestselling novel is brought to the screen by Tran Anh Hung (Golden Lion winner for CYCLO and Academy Award nominee for THE SCENT OF GREEN PAPAYA) and features Japanese rising star Kenichi Matsuyama (DEATH NOTE, DETROIT METAL CITY) and Oscar nominee Rinko Kikuchi (BABEL) alongside newcomer Kiko Mizuhara.
Tokyo, the late 1960s... Students around the world are uniting to overthrow the establishment and Toru Watanabe's personal life is similarly in tumult. At heart, he is deeply devoted to his first love, Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman. But their complex bond has been forged by the tragic death of their best friend years before. Watanabe lives with the influence of death everywhere. That is, until Midori, a girl who is everything that Naoko is not - outgoing, vivacious, supremely self-confident - marches into his life and Watanabe must choose between his past and his future.
The Novel
"Norwegian Wood" is the best selling novel from cult Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami.
First published in 1987 "Norwegian Wood" has become a global success selling over 10 million copies world-wide.
Born in Kyoto, Japan in 1949, Murakami grew up in Kobe and graduated from Waseda University in Toyko.
After college, he owned a small jazz bar for seven years. His first novel 'Hear the Wind Sing" (1979) won him the Gonzou
Literature Prize for budding writers but it was ten years later with "Norwegian Wood" that he found domestic and international success.
His latest novel "IQ84" Books 1 and 2 will be released later in 2011. All Murakami's books are published in the US by Random House.
'Evocative, Entertaining, sexy and funny; but then Murakami is one of the best writers around'
- Time Out
'Norwegian Wood is undeniably hip, full of student uprisings, free love, booze and 1960's pop. It's also genuinely emotionally engaging, and describes the highs of adolescence as well as the lows'
- Independent on Sunday
The Soundtrack
Musical score by Jonny Greenwood.
In addition to his work with the band Radiohead, Jonny Greenwood has made a considerable name for himself as a composer in recent years. His Grammy-nominated score for Paul Thomas Anderson's 2007 film There Will Be Blood (Nonesuch) won the award for Best Film Score at the Evening Standard British Film Awards and the Ivor Novello Award for Best Original Film Score.
Design Competition
In February 2011, Soda Pictures worked with Don't Panic to run a design competition in the UK for those inspired by the film adaptation of Norwegian Wood.
In the 4 weeks that the competition was open, 400 entries were received. The top ten, as voted for by the public, were then exhibited in the Curzon Soho and the jury - including Curzon Cinemas, poster designers All City and Norwegian Wood director Tran Anh Hung - selected Bertie Simpson's design as the winner of the UK design competition.
See UK design competition entries below...
To view the other entries, click here.
Theaters
Norwegian Wood Opens in US Theaters starting January 2012
| Date |
Theater |
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Friday, January 6, 2012
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IFC Center, New York NY
West End Cinema, Washington DC
AMC Loews Shirlington 7, Arlington VA
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Friday, January 13, 2012
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Indiescreen, Brooklyn, NY
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Friday January 20, 2012
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Music Box Theatre, Chicago IL
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Friday, January 27, 2012
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SIFF Cinema at the Uptown, Seattle WA
Laemmle Theaters, Los Angeles CA
Theatre N, Wilmington DE
State Theatre, Modesto, CA
|
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Friday, February 3, 2012
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Sundance Cinemas Kabuki, San Francisco CA
Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield MA
|
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Friday, February 10, 2012
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Smith Rafael Film Center, San Rafael CA
Cinema Paradiso, Ft. Lauderdale FL
|
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Friday, February 17, 2012
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AMC Showplace Bloomington 11, Bloomington IN
Miami Cinematheque, Miami Beach FL
Mos'Art Theater, West Palm Beach, FL
Mountain Cinema: Doctorow Center for the Arts; Hunter NY
|
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Friday, February 24, 2012
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The Magic Lantern Theatre, Spokane WA
4 Star Theatre, San Francisco CA
Catamount Arts Center, St. Johnsbury VT
|
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Friday, March 2, 2012
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Regal Cinemas Fox Tower, Portland OR
Cumberland, Toronto ON Canada
|
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Thurs/Fri March 8/9, 2012
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Cleveland Cinematheque, Cleveland OH
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Friday March 9, 2012
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Denver Film Center/Colfax, Denver CO
Kahala Theater, Honolulu HI
Salem Cinema, Salem OR
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Friday March 16, 2012
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Memphis Brooks Museum of Art - Memphis, TN (3/15)
The Screen - Santa Fe, NM
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Friday March 23, 2012
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Reading Gaslamp 15, San Diego CA
Gateway Film Center, Columbus OH
Lyric Cinema Cafe, Ft. Collins CO
Broadway, Saskatoon SK Canada
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Friday March 30, 2012
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Alamo Ritz, Austin TX
Vancity, Vancouver BC Canada
Metro, Edmonton, AB Canada
|
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Friday April 6, 2012
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Peace Center for the Performing Arts, Greenville SC
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Friday April 13, 2012
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Bytowne, Ottawa ON Canada
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Friday April 20, 2012
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Sundance Cinemas, Madison WI
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Check back for updated Theater listings!
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