1 Litro de Lágrimas (2005)

Firstly! I gave this a re-watch value of 5. NOT because it was bad but because I am still not sure if I can go through the wringer again. I have NEVER cried when watching something but I cannot say that any more. This drama made me realized just how fragile humans are but also how strong we are. After watching this drama I started to view life differently.

What did I like:
A strong female character, Family (not the ones where they are just about putting you in your place),Friendship, Love (several kind). The female character was much braver than I will ever be.

What I hated:
Life happens! It does not differential between age, gender, colour, size or anything.

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Tearful and powerful

Personally whenever i came across this title, i would look the other way. It was old, and it seemed to just be one of those, tragedy series just by the cover. But i was wrong.. The only reason for poor rewatch value, i don't think i can handle this much tears and sadness the 2nd time.


OST

I liked the ost, i think in most times it suited the mood of the scene and i felt it fitting. I never was taken out the scene because the song was unmatched and most of the times i think , it being silent with no ost suited the mood.

ACTING

The acting was good on the girls part, having to play a role where physically it was demanding and being able to sell it was nice. The parents and siblings had a nice dynamic which made their acting shine, altho the dad was quite comedic and odd so i couldn't get into his lines, his facial expressions and the way he spoke was a bit off putting. The male character Haruto, i think his name was, was an okay actor. His emotions were very subtle and he had that douche face so in most scenes it was a weird lack of emotions. He could've done a better job.

PLOT

I think what this plot hits the most, because it was someone's real life. Seeing the book entries from the real girl's AYA diary was very emotional. Knowing the thoughts of the character were the real life girls thoughts was very sad and you can't help but shed a tear as the plot progresses and so does her disease. The title surely is true to a sense where you will shed a 1 litre of tears by the end of this drama. Of course the drama itself is not for weak hearted, and you surely need to prepare to wake up with swollen eyes. It tells a different perspective on life, and how unfair the world may be, and how no matter unfair it is you must keep your head up.

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This is not a spoiler because if you read the synopsis, you know that there will be sad parts in this show, because the disease being shown is a horribly cruel one. But despite the reality of the disease, it is an amazingly well done and hopeful story based on a real person's journey. The inclusion of some of the writings by the real person as well as photos of her adds so much to the overall production as well.

The acting in this is very good...especially the female lead. She handles what had to be a very difficult role with great skill. All those in the series show unique characteristics that add to the overall story. The only slight issue I had was that the story is supposed to take place over the course of 10 years (though it focuses mostly on about 6 of them), however the siblings of the main character don't really age. They seem to switch the youngest actress to an older one right at the end, but the hardest to believe is the brother. He is going through the years that would have entailed the most physical changes (late elementary school through early High School) and yet he pretty much stays that same. This is nothing against the actor playing him...he does a great job, but it seems like it would have made sense to change actors for him as well as he was supposed to be "growing older." As I say, it's a minor issue, but it was something I noticed.

I'm really glad I watched this series. The character of Aya will stay will me for sometime I think and I would really like to read the book the show was based off of as well.

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It’s fitting that both my first review on this website and the first drama I’ve ever finished is not only a drama with the number 1 in it, but is a highly rated drama in one of my favorite genres: the melodrama. I love this genre, even though I stare stony faced at almost all pathos-filled developments. I just like unabashed emotion and how it defies the typical barriers we have set on our everyday life. You should let the tears flow, though I’m not the best practitioner of this precept.

The saddest part of the drama is that it is based on a real person, as they emphasize at the end of the episodes, and concerns a real disease, which I’ve never heard of before. These facts ground the show, giving an air of realism to the plot. However, I have one objection to the plot, and that is the character of Asou. He’s not a poorly-written character- I just don’t like that he was written, as opposed to being real. Yes, I know the family of Aya gave their blessing and that it makes for a less-depressing and more interesting drama. However, I prefer shows or movies that don’t offer a respite, and fully convey an experience that seems far away, even though it’s actually just hidden from my sight. This is purely a personal preference, and I’ll admit I liked the romance. Maybe it’s pedantic, but I’ll be the first to admit I’m very, very pedantic.

I want to single out praise for the acting in this drama, especially Erika Sawajiri and Hiroko Yakushimaru. As Aya’s condition deteriorates, Sawajiri shows more and more of her ability as a good actress. However, I found Yakushimaru’s performance underrated. I was impressed by her portrayal of Aya’s mother, who is desperately trying to protect her daughter. Her devastation as it slowly dawns on her that she can do nothing for Aya is heartbreaking. In fact, it’s the nearest in the drama proper I came to crying. But, alas, I am made of stone, and could not cry physically, although I cried in spirit.

1 Litre of Tears is an emotional and effective exploration of a horrific, yet little-known disease. For that alone, it deserves kudos. Despite a few quibbles I had with the drama, it’s a decent watch. And if you like melodramas, it’s definitely worth your time.

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