4th August 2007 Saturday

Wanted to give a short recommendation on the japanese drama serial that I talked about some time ago - "1 litre of tears". Hence, was searching for some of its screen shots and I saw this review that I thought recommended the show much better than I would been able to. So thought I'd select bits and pieces of the recommendation and paste them over here. Really nice show and if you could survive the show without even an urge to cry, then congrats because you are really heartless...

So here goes - "1 litre of tears"......
The japanese name of the drama is Ichi Rittoru no Namida. And the very reason why it was so powerful is that it is based on a real life story, which means most of the show is real and has already happened. The story is about a 15 year old girl who was diagnosed with spinocerebellar degeneration - an incurable disease where the cerebullum of the brain gradually deteriorates. And when it does so, the victim starts to gradually lose the ability to walk, write, speak and eat. And I guess the worse part about this process is the word - "gradual". Which means the victim loses a little of the very things we took for granted as time goes by. Slowly but surely. And there is nothing that could stop it. How helpless could one get in such situations. Imagine living a life that is proceeding slowly in a direction that you feared it would go and you can do nothing to stop it. From the start of the story, more or less you knew what would eventually happen to her. Yet, every episode still brings you down to the point of crying.Introducing the brilliant main leads.....

The lead actress, Sawajiri Erika played the godlike Aya Ikeuchi - the main anchor of the main drama and the victim of the disease that I talked about above. Her performance was perfect, not to mention that she is cute and it really tears you apart to see her slowly being consumed by the disease.

The lead actor, Ryo Mishikido plays Haruto, the cool guy who turned from one who has no respect for human lives, including his own to the only friend who was with Aya all the way till the end. And the wholehearted manner in which he accepted her for who she was, with or without the disease really blows the viewer away.

And I always loved shows which depicted all aspects of lives including society and family. Most dramas nowadays focused too much on lovey dovey stuff. This show is an all rounder and makes you think a lot.

The ugly stares from the commuters after Aya showed her disability card to the driver. It makes you think about how accepting the society really is to the minority such as ex-jailbirds, disabled and outcasts. I guess they don't really desire our sympathy or pity as much as they desire our acceptance. And they don't really want to attract attention like that from the above. It is already bad fighting a battle against a disease than have to deal with the different looks from the people around you. And it really breaks your heart to see the girl faking a smile despite all her worries and pain just so not to worry the people around her.

And the complete jerk who sort of ditched her when she gradually lose her normal abilities such as the ability to run. Incidentally this guy acted the famous and rather popular "L" in Death Note.

And introducing Aya's family, amongst those that gave her the most support all the way till the end.

Aya's family is excellent and all of them have really awesome character and are well played by the individual actors and actresses albeit the fact that a couple of them are really young. Watching how her father and mother came to terms with the fact that their daughter has such a disease and turning into her pillar of strength. Watching her parents leaving the final choice in their daughter to decide her own life and supporting her decision all the way. It is moments like these that you realise how much a parent will endure and go through just to protect the smile of their children.

Even Aya's younger sister, Ako, who started out as a spoilt brat matured into one of the best sisters that one could hope to have. The way she chided her brother for being ashamed of acknowledging Aya. And how she, despite not being as bright or hardworking as Aya, strived to enter the elite school Aya was in (which she was forced to leave in the end due to her sickness) and to continue her dreams of graduating from the school.

And I will end my recommendation with a few random pictures of the actress that I have so grown to like after watching "1 litre of tears" and "A Song to the Sun"......