DragonAlien

Well I started this drama yesterday in the evening and yup pretty much marathoned it one episode after another. You could say that I spent 11 hours sitting and lying in bed and I've finished it with the feeling I can't explain. But I will try to. Suna no utsuwa is one of the most original dramas I've seen in my entire life. By far one of the most well-acted and well-directed Jdramas out there and the cinematography of the scenery is just spectacular. Dark, tragic yet artistically beautiful drama. It's so rare in some modern Japanese drama to see the use of breathtaking sceneries. Beautifully filmed, the mountains vast, the grassland, the sea, the cliff, the flowers in spring, in autumn, the trees of winter, summer, I was really fascinated. And on top of that music. For that I am not sure what to say. It will haunt me forever. Piano tunes of Eiryo's Shukumei just keep playing in my head. One of the rarest dramas I've seen that truly understands that more can be said with a set piece of music and a look than any amount of dialogue. The use of opera and orchestral music along with sweeping shots of both urban and rural Japan is breathtaking and can't be done justice in this review, it just has to be seen to be appreciated. The "Shukumei" piece is like nothing else I've ever heard, how it progresses along with Waga's character throughout the show is brilliant and makes it all the more moving. That is the heart and core of Suna no Utsuwa, the beautifully haunting piano music integral creating the gloomy and hopeless backdrop that the story was heading towards. Half of Episodes 10-11 take us through Waga’s epic journey as a child with his father and the whole narrative flashback is set to this music so we got to appreciate the melody while the questions in our heads are finally answered. The drama is heavy and dark all throughout because from the very first episode we are burdened with witnessing the murder and knowing about the turmoil in Waga’s head. As more details about his past is revealed, we can’t help but comprehend why he is so desperate to cover up his true identity. We are faced with an ethical dilemma as we commend him for attaining his stellar status despite his terrible, unfortunate past; commiserate with him, knowing that all he wants is to move forward and upgrade his way of living; condone him for going that far just to protect what he’s achieved; and finally feel sorrow for him and the fate he has locked himself within. The cast is perfect. Matsuyuki was fantastic, it's good to see that there is someone else out there amongst Japanese actresses that can do these dark roles well. She was impressive as the quietly suffering Asami who has self-worth issues herself and is content with unconditionally loving Waga on the wayside. In the span of the series, she displays a huge range of emotions that very few actresses I’ve seen are capable of pulling off. Watanabe Ken was great as the detective who wants the case to be solved but at the same time is conflicted by how tragic the whole situation really is as he slowly pieces together Waga's life. His powerful onscreen presence alone convinces you that he IS a detective who will stop at nothing until he gets to the bottom of what really happened. A brilliant actor indeed. And I don't really know how to describe Nakai's performance, simply magnificent. It wasn't easy at all to cast an idol to act the leading role, a dark character with closed personality, a character with full emotion and so sensitive inside....yet, always look calm, plain expressions, and cold as an ice outside. Plus, this idol who has never learned how to play a piano before, have to act a talented, professional and successful pianist & composer. And they succeed 100% with it. Masahiro was amazing, he deliberated us an excellent performance in this drama. I love Eiryo's character's complexity, no matter how he tried to form a new character in front of people, the cool, plain expression Eiryo Waga, he is still the little boy Hideo inside....so fragile, full of emotions and such a sensitive person. Love how he sometimes, suddenly cries like a little child when he's alone in his mansion at one time, then being all-cool again at another time. I love the expressions on his face when he plays...full of feelings, the look in his eyes- those big eyes who can show every little emotion, I think that the best of him are actually his eyes. Even the director saw it, in almost every scene when they zoom his face and show us his eyes and the look in them I was without a breath. Ingeniously done. I've heard people call this slow but it has been a more intense experience than almost all the shows I've seen. Maybe it's because we are so used to having cliches shoved down our throats that when something like this comes along, people have a hard time adjusting. Regardless of its pace, I recommend this show and there is no reason you shouldn't at least try it. I personally believe this is a must watch if you consider yourself a jdrama fan. This drama is about real life and that's what it delivers.