Fan reviews: Suna No Utsuwa

takezo · 30 Aug 2008

suna no utsuwa, or vessel of sand, is an old 60's novel made into a film in the early 70's of the same title. the tv series is somewhat
different in the sub-plots and story of the father and his demise but in some ways is superior to the film version in that the point of view is from hideo, the son, whereas the main pov of the film is from the inspector imanishi. don't get me wrong, the film is heart wrenching too, but the music is better in the series and many of the characters are better fleshed out. the dvd box edition is slightly different than the broadcast but nothing major. one of the best tear jerkers in j-dorama history, especially the last episode.

sucigam · 19 Mar 2007

Suna No Utsuwa is a show that has alot in common with One Million Stars Falling From The Sky. Both have protagonists who are burdened by fate and both these protagonists are being tracked down by a relentless detective. The difference between the shows lies in the execution. While One Million uses fast music and cliff hangers, Suna takes its time, building all of it's characters through the use of expressions, not words.

Suna No Utsuwa is the first drama I've seen that truly understands 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 breath taking 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.

The cast is perfect. Matsuyuki gives me hope for jdrama actresses, it's good to see that their is someone else out there other than Shibasaki Kou that can do these dark roles well. Watanabe Ken is 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. I don't really know how to describe Nakai's performance, I've never been able to so easily sympathize with any character in any drama period. This is a truly tragic character that is made all the more sadder by Nakai's expressions and mannerisms. Harada Yoshio also deserves recognition, the last two episodes of the show were held together by him.

This show does have a few holes in it, the major ones lying in the logic behind some of moves Waga makes when trying to elude the detectives. These are minor complaints though as most jdramas are usually riddled with coincidences and are pretty much a standard affair to keep a drama moving.

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 can't recommend this show enough and now that it has been subtitled(thanks to gromitt) 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.

P.S. I felt some what unfulfilled with the ending but I decided to sleep on it before writing this review. When I woke up the next morning I understood and appreciated what they were trying to do. This drama is about real life and that's what it delivers.

Hiro Toyo · 5 Mar 2005

A story about a an extremely talented musician who battles his past and the demons inside him. The drama portrays his struggles through a lot of music and scenes, and not a lot of dialogue. It is beautifully directed and the mood of the drama was apparent. However, after watching this drama, I realized that this drama is actually a police story. The other half of the story shows the cop trying to crack the case, while at the same the main guy sort of has a fling with another girl. That story with the girl never took off and ended up nowhere, so at the end i never got the feeling that this was a love story i was watching. There also wasn't really any suspense in this; the guy never really did anything to thwart the efforts of the police in any way.
The guy did play that same song over and over again, and it became apparent later that the guy just wanted to finish his final piece and accept his fate. One thing that bugged me the whole time was how he didn't get rid of the evidence simply by doing it himself; that was hard for me to accept and threw off my rhythm for the rest of the drama.

pawnakai · 17 Feb 2005

Definitely a 10! Well worth the wait! Never thought wacky Nakai could carry off this role! He really gave a 110% here! His facial expressions were really something else. He didn't have to say much, just look at his face! Everything in this drama, the car, clothes, sceneries all fit the cool and sometimes cold Waga Eriyo!
Great watch! If you want a substantial, solid drama, this is the one for you!

airabusmap · 27 Dec 2004

I finished watching Suna No Utsuwa and I am very impressed and amazed by Nakai Masahiro-san's performance. I never would have imagined him taking such a serious and mature role. His performance was phenomenal. He really got into the character of Eiryo Waga and the emotions he expressed with his eyes and mannerisms is really breathtaking. He makes the audience empathize with the character. The audience can feel the painful childhood he had to endure while he was growing up in the village. It is so sad to see how he has to suffer guilt and pain for what his father had done. And it is not his fault, but his father is the reason why he is in his current predicament and the cause for his downfall. So sad. I cried in every scene when they showed his sad and painful childhood. I really enjoy this drama very much. It is really deep and emotional. Very different from the typical J-doramas. I am definitely going to watch this again. And it is no surprise that Nakai Masahiro won the Best Actor award for this. And Ken Watanabe won for Best Supporting Actor. Plus the show won for Best TV Show of 2004.

airabusmap · 13 Dec 2004

I have just started to watch this drama on video and I cannot believe the exquisite performance that Nakai Masahiro is giving. OMG!!! His facial expressions combined with the fantastic sceneries is absolutely breathtaking. I have always liked his banter and joking around in Smap concerts and shows and think he does great MC. When I heard about Suna No Utsuwa (The Last Symphony) and that he was the lead actor, I had to watch it. So far I have only seen Chapter 1 and 2. I still have more to go. But the suspense in this show is great. As a viewer, you have no idea what his character is going to do next. Very mysterious, very intriguing, very suspenseful. I love this!!! So far, so good!!!

Hinano · 13 Sep 2004

Alright I thought of watching this drama because of Nakai-kun, but after episode 1 I decided against it. He just seems so cold/crazy/psychotic which is completely opposite of his persona on SMAPxSMAP or Utaban and it just seems alll too bizarro for me. XD Maybe the story is good, maybe it gets better but I just couldn't get past episode 1, it freaked me out too much, and was too depressing.

RISAKO · 15 Aug 2004

Beautiful music,cinematography,well-written screenplay, and casting - it will move you - it was much better than the original Matsumoto Seicho book it is based on - a MUST SEE!!!!!!!!

christinelee · 11 Jun 2004

Such a tragic story! The theme music is terrific yet it adds more sadness to the story. The scenery set for the little boy's past is so beautiful.

yanie_chan · 22 May 2004

Such a great story! Little Eiryo's story...soo tragic, and touching...I cried, cried and cried seeing how much little Eiryo suffered....

I love Suna even more, more than Shiroi Kage, Sleeping Forest, Ice World, Saimin, Sorakara and those other beautiful dark dramas!!!^O^ Sugoooi!! Its a tale of a father and a son! For me...parents-child relationship is always much, much more touching than love story!^.^

For the first time in modern Japan dramas I see the use of breathtaking sceneries!!! Gosh soooo beautifully filmed!! Love it so much! Definitely a plus points for the drama!! Great cinematography too! Reminds me of Shiroi Kage.....but Suna have even better sceneries...the mountains vast, the grassland, the sea, the cliff, the flowers in spring, in autumn, the trees of winter, summer....sugooooi!!! Whereas SKage is just about the lake and the sea ^_^

Yappari.....soundtrack hoshiiii!!! Musics are all sugoooi! I cant get rid the piano tunes of Eiryo's Shukumei out of my head!! It keeps ringing!! x)

Looooove Eiryo & Asami's chemistry!!^o^ Its blur.....but sweet relationship they has. In terms of compatibility, he looks best with Yasuko Matsuyuki(Asami)!^^ Coz her looks fit in to be a dark character, just like Nakai^^
The opening scene is sooo sweet...Asami held Eiryo's hand........one of my fave! Another fave is when he saved her from commiting suicide, then he embrace her, comfort her, it really left a deep impression.
I also love it, when Asami says his hand are atakai^^ And later on, Eiryo give her his gloves, coz her hands are always cold......sweeeeeet!!!!^.^

As for me...Nakai's best performance is definitely in this drama!! Not as Naoe, not as Peace...but as an Eiryo Waga!!^.^ Hontou ni! Sugoi yo! Superb! Such a difficult character to be acted in my opinion....coz it involves alot of emotion and sensitivity. Naoe & Peace didnt involve as much emotion as Eiryo.
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.
I love how he panicked when a police car's sirene passing by his mansion....he thinks he's gonna be caught! x)
And his anxiety, after Imanishi the detective exits his mansion...till he trembles so bad...some would think he exaggerate it...but i dont think so....it tries to tell the audience how fragile & sensitive Eiryo really is.

And its not easy for someone who just learned to play a piano for few months only, acting as a talented and professional pianist!! Trust me! Nakai did it wonderfully!^o^ I'm amazed!!! Sugooooii!! Its as if, he can really play as good as Eiryo!
Plus, he plays it with expressions and feelings! Hats off to Nakai!

Overall, Nakai did a wonderful, wonderful job!!! The expression acting, the charactarize acting, playing the piano acting.....all perfectly well-done and he deserve a Best Actor award more than anyone else!
And plus....Nakai's dramas/movie in these past few years....3 times in a row, has never fails to satisfy me to the fullest!!! Shiroi Kage, Mohouhan and this drama....Suna....^^
(Just FYI...I'm not really a Nakai fan, my ichiban in Smap is another member....^^ I'm actually amazed with his acting-skill, NOT subjectively!^^;;)

Suna have such a different plot!! Love its originality....as far as I know...none of other JDrama is similar to this type of drama....so, I'm not sure where should I categorize this drama to x) Its sure different than Sorakara and SForest...

I'm so excited abt this drama, and I want to get the original book!!!^o^ World War II was set as background in the original novel....omoshiroi!! It must be even more tragic x)

vash_donutangel · 26 Feb 2004

I love the beauty and the atmosphere of the whole drama...Nakai and Matsuyuki does a very, very good job acting.
I don't recommend it to people who like happy dramas...This one's very depressing and sad, but in a good way. It actually kept to the novel very well too.