When reading Norwegian Wood, I found Naoko to be a very compelling character to me. Her sadness and complexity was something that I sympathized with. To me, Naoko was a woman plagued with grief and trauma, in addition to struggling to conform in a very homogenous society. Her struggles with mental health and suicidal ideation gave a lot of depth to her character, which I enjoyed reading about.
Going into the movie, I was very curious with how my version of these characters (in my head), specifically Naoko, would play out on screen. The filmmaker was consistent with depicting her mental health trouble, which I felt was a vital aspect of Naoko. Both the film and the novel showcases the melancholic nature of this character. Additionally, I found there were cinematographic choices that affirmed the complex nature of Naoko. Various shots throughout the film highlights the isolation and detachment Noaka feels with herself and the world around her, which is affirming of how I depicted her myself from reading Norwegian Wood. Focusing on her emotional strife was a solid choice for me. Even though this film was not really to my taste, I enjoyed the valid portrayal of characters (and their characterization) in the novel on screen.
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