A professor on being interrupted by a group of protesters who
say that there are more important things than Greek plays, says that there is
nothing more important than Greek tragedies.
Set around a very easily missed background of protests and unrest, Norwegian Wood is a story about drama and love that happens oblivious to its settings. The positioning of this story at this particular time seems very deliberate. In comparison to all the strife and turmoil and post war upheavals that were very obviously taking place during the time, the main characters seem to inhabit this perfect beautiful world where relationships are of greater importance than anything else. The story is very subtly trying to show us the other dilemmas and issues people would have faced during the time and tries to convey the weight these issues held for those who were involved.
The significance of sexuality in the movie seems rather strange at first. Could it be that this movie in direct contrast to movies made in more conservative time [which used to symbolism sex with other themes/actions] is trying to represent relationships through sex? It might sound rather silly, but the sex lives of the characters often reflect the problems the characters have in their relationships. Kizuki and Naoko fail to consummate their relationship even though they did love each other. Wantanabe and Naoko who are seldom together are often restricted in how far they can take their relationship develop a substitute as a way of conveying their affection. They do not are only able to have sex once, back when a normal relationship seemed possible. Their inability to develop a healthy sex life goes hand in hand with their inability to have sex. Midori and Wantanabee are unable or just unwilling to consummate their relationship until they have reached a point where they have moved on [to some extent] from their past. Midori asks Wantanabee to a porn flick as a way of coping with loss. Sex is used, in essence, as a sort of psychological litmus test to tell you how well the characters are doing.
You can argue that the song Norwegian wood to be about a man who fails to understand the signals a woman sends him.The movie seems to involve Wantanabee try to figure out what love exactly is. Every character he meets has their own expectations and view on how it should work.
It also see's Wantanabee come to terms with loss and responsibility which he has tried to escape.
The whole movie involves what can be called an almost nostalgic look back on things. How idealistic and peaceful memories seems after having moved on from them. How Kizuki and Naoko who are unable to deal with their own loss become so central to Wantanabees' own personality and where his desire to hold on to the past [or rather the people from it] takes him.
Set around a very easily missed background of protests and unrest, Norwegian Wood is a story about drama and love that happens oblivious to its settings. The positioning of this story at this particular time seems very deliberate. In comparison to all the strife and turmoil and post war upheavals that were very obviously taking place during the time, the main characters seem to inhabit this perfect beautiful world where relationships are of greater importance than anything else. The story is very subtly trying to show us the other dilemmas and issues people would have faced during the time and tries to convey the weight these issues held for those who were involved.
The significance of sexuality in the movie seems rather strange at first. Could it be that this movie in direct contrast to movies made in more conservative time [which used to symbolism sex with other themes/actions] is trying to represent relationships through sex? It might sound rather silly, but the sex lives of the characters often reflect the problems the characters have in their relationships. Kizuki and Naoko fail to consummate their relationship even though they did love each other. Wantanabe and Naoko who are seldom together are often restricted in how far they can take their relationship develop a substitute as a way of conveying their affection. They do not are only able to have sex once, back when a normal relationship seemed possible. Their inability to develop a healthy sex life goes hand in hand with their inability to have sex. Midori and Wantanabee are unable or just unwilling to consummate their relationship until they have reached a point where they have moved on [to some extent] from their past. Midori asks Wantanabee to a porn flick as a way of coping with loss. Sex is used, in essence, as a sort of psychological litmus test to tell you how well the characters are doing.
You can argue that the song Norwegian wood to be about a man who fails to understand the signals a woman sends him.The movie seems to involve Wantanabee try to figure out what love exactly is. Every character he meets has their own expectations and view on how it should work.
It also see's Wantanabee come to terms with loss and responsibility which he has tried to escape.
The whole movie involves what can be called an almost nostalgic look back on things. How idealistic and peaceful memories seems after having moved on from them. How Kizuki and Naoko who are unable to deal with their own loss become so central to Wantanabees' own personality and where his desire to hold on to the past [or rather the people from it] takes him.
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