2010’s Happenings

Tran Anh Hung brings Japanese best seller out of the woods and onto the big screen

I love, love, love Norwegian Wood, a best-selling Japanese novel by Murakami Haruki, a novel whose title derives from a Beatles song of the same name.  I also really like Tran Anh Hung, arguably the most celebrated Vietnamese-born director of contemporary cinema.

When I found out Tran Anh Hung was adapting Murakami’s Norwegian Wood for the big screen, I clasped my hands together, prostrated, and thanked the high heavens for bringing two beautiful things in this world together, then squealed like the little fangirl that I am.

When I found out that the movie would star Matsuyama Ken’ichi (manga/anime fans might recognize him as L from the Death Note movies), Kikuchi Rinko (the first Asian actress to be nominated for an Academy Award in 50 years), and Mizuhara Kiko (a neophyte actress who’s really pretty, like, really, really pretty), I further meditated on fate’s uncanny ability to bring wonderful things in this world together, and then proceeded to yippee and fist pump in joy.

When I found out Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead would be scoring the film, and that this was only the second time in cinematic history an actual Beatles song (not a cover) would be used in a Japanese film, I was absolutely speechless/awed/marveled at the goodness of this world, got out of my computer chair, threw my hands in the air, and did a happy happy dance around the room.

Tran officially announced his plan to adapt Norwegian Wood in 2008, but the movie didn’t come out until late 2010.  It made its debut at the prestigious Venice Film Festival, competing against big names like Darren Aronosky’s Black Swan and Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere for the Golden Lion Prize.  Norwegian Wood was later released in Japan on December 11, coming in third at the box offices in its first week.  It’s been screening in theatres across Asia on a rolling basis since then, and it opened in Vietnam on December 31.  Tran Anh Hung himself was in Ha Noi to present the film to the audience.

Even though the film has been receiving lukewarm reviews, and it’s technically a Japanese production, it’s amazing that a Vietnamese-French director can be attached to such an anticipated project.  I believe Tran Anh Hung has accomplished a lot through Norwegian Wood: he gained the elusive approval of Murakami, who has been known to be quite unrelenting when it comes to adapting his literature; he secured the rights to use the original Beatles song in the movie (it’s extremely difficult to get licensing for a Beatles songs for movies); and he renewed fervor for this internationally cherished novel.  As with Ngo Bao Chau, I hope young Vietnamese at home and abroad can take Tran’s example as precedent and continue to explore their potentials in art and cinema.