Norwegian Wood 2012

Here’s my rephrased version:

As the haunting melody of “Once Had a Girl” by The Beatles seems to echo through his soul, Toru Watanabe (Kenichi Matsuyama) finds himself trapped in a poignant existential crisis. In 1969 Tokyo, this introspective young college student is torn between his deep devotion to Naoko (Rinko Kikuchi), the enigmatic beauty who has captured his heart, and the crushing weight of their collective past. The tragic loss of their closest friend years prior casts a long shadow over their lives, reminding Watanabe that mortality is always lurking, waiting to strike.

As they navigate the delicate dance of young love on Naoko’s 20th birthday, it seems that their passion has finally reached its peak. But in the aftermath of that intimate moment, Naoko makes a life-altering decision: she abandons her college pursuits and retreats into solitude. This sudden change leaves Watanabe reeling, forced to confront the dissonance between his past and present desires.

Enter Midori (Kiko Mizuhara), a whirlwind of energy and self-assurance who storms into Watanabe’s life like a breath of fresh air. With her radiant presence and effortless charm, she embodies everything Naoko is not - outgoing, vibrant, and unapologetically confident. As Watanabe finds himself drawn to Midori’s infectious enthusiasm, he must now choose between the comfort of his past and the promise of his future. Will he remain mired in memories or seize the opportunity for a new beginning?