This bird had flown

"If you only read the books that everyone else is reading, you can only think what everyone else is thinking."

"no truth can cure the sorrow we feel from losing a loved one. No truth, no sincerity, no strength, no kindness can cure that sorrow. All we can do is see it through to the end and learn something from it, but what we learn will be no help in facing the next sorrow that comes to us without warning."

Both by Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood.

Last night, I went to see a preview of the film of Norwegian Wood. This book that "everyone else is reading" was first given to me on my nineteenth birthday by my friend Ro, who has just left this city for Canada.

In the years since, as I have learnt more about both love and the unanswerable pain of the suicide of friends, this book has gained more resonance within me. It was a bitter sweet catharsis to be taken to these places again.

The film is shot, lit and scored with real flare (Ang Hun Tran/Lee Ping Bing Mark/Johnny Greenwood respectively) and the acting is pretty strong throughout too, particularly by the beautiful Eriko Hatsune. But what struck me most was that I've ever seen a film that stays so loyal to the feel and atmosphere of the book. It's a sexy and painful dream of a film. Props to all involved.