Inkless

When I first read the title of this jdrama, 1 Litre of Tears, I was turned off by it. It just sounded so stereotypical. “Another one of those get sick and die but fall in love in the process” kind of films, I thought. Honestly, I think this drama would receive more attention with another name.

First of all, the show is based off the real life account of Ikeuchi Aya, who contracts a rare disease called spinocerebellar ataxia. She wrote in a diary about her life until she simply could not write anymore. It was a bestselling novel and they adapted it into the film.

What is really moving to me about this drama is that it does not come off as forced. The love aspect may be a bit artificial, but the treatment of disability as a social concern and its affects on family and friends is very real and poignant. The dilemmas and sadnesses her family incur as a result of her illness are real issues which many families with disabled members face. The show really forces the viewer to think hard about how the disabled are essentially ostracized by society.

The drama is shot nicely with quality acting. (The father seems kind of exaggeratedly sad at times, though). Of all the dramas I have seen, Japanese, Korean, or Chinese, this one is definitely the most moving simply because it is the most real. It is not just about people falling in love in the face of adverse circumstances. I think it really does challenge our notions of courage, family, and what it means to live.

So, this is highly recommended!

Here are a few linkages if you’re interested:

Wiki page with general info

Site with links to streaming episodes, though the quality is bad

Oh, and the main actress Erika Sawajiri, is brilliantly cute. Enjoy, in the saddest sense of that word.

‘Tis all.