One of my favorite novels finally hits the big screen! Haruki Murakami’s “Norwegian Wood” is by far the best love story I’ve ever read (in recent memory), and I’m a huge Beatles freak (i mean, who isn’t?) so I’m just so psyched about this! And oh, Kenichi Matsuyama of Death Note is casted as Toru Watanabe.
Just recently, the producers of the film secured the approval to make use of the original Beatles song of the same title, Norwegian Wood. As all ye Beatles fans know, the song Norwegian Wood was first recorded in the Beatles album “Rubber Soul” released in 1965, including hits like Michelle and Girl. The song inspired Murakami’s 1987 novel, from which the title was adopted. Set against the backdrop of student movements during the 60s, the novel tells the story of a young college student named Toru Watanabe who struggles against the overwhelming influence of death, alongside his troubled girlfriend Naoko. Sometime later, he meets the vivacious, outgoing Midori and soon finds himself choosing between the future and the past.
Director Tran Anh Hung felt that it was only natural to use the song Norwegian Wood as the movie’s theme song, but Apple Records, which owns the rights to the Beatles catalog, refused at first. Hung persisted and soon his efforts paid off and they were given approval last December. Apple Records has a policy against using songs of the Beatles in any commercial work, but they made an exception for “Norwegian Wood” owing to the “tremendous popularity” of the novel.
“Norwegian Wood” opens in theaters this December. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment