Here we are again, another Drama Review. This time it's a japanese drama called 'Nodame Cantabile'. Originally it was a manga created by Tomoko Ninomiya, then since it became famous, an anime adaptation was made and finally a drama.
Well, 'Nodame Cantabile' is a 11 episodes romantic-comedy started in 2006 in Japan, by Fuji Tv. It tells the story of two young musicians, Shinichi Chiaki and Noda Megumi. Both of them study piano in Momogaoka conservatory in Tokyo, but they don't know each other and have definitively different goals in life.
Shinichi Chiaki is a young man majoring in piano. He is the son of a famous pianist and he is famous himself within the school for his extraordinary ability. But he's not satisfied, Chiaki wants to be a conductor and not just a pianist. His dream is to become someone as good as Viera, an italian condutor that made him his pupil when he was little. Chiaki cherish the promise made with him 'let's meet in 10 years' but 10 year have already passed and he is stuck in Japan doing something he doesn't even want to. -while everyone wonders why the heck he doesn't go to europe to perform internationally- That is because of his terrible fear of flying, a real phobia, cause by a plane incident when he was a kid.
Then we have Noda Megumi, nicknamed Nodame, a piano student that doesn't take anything seriusly. She is the 'weirdest creature' acting and speaking oddly, and often steal food from other students. Nodame enjoy to create silly music for children on the piano, because she wants to be 'a kindergarten or elementary teacher', she doesn't have big aspiration or anything of that sort. She barely know the name of the 'famous' Chiaki in school, but she never seemed to care that much.
Then one evening, Nodame finds Chiaki passed out in front of her home door. She immediately falls in love with him and bring him to her home. Truth is, Chiaki lives in the apartment next to Nodame, and since he was drunk, he mistook the doors.
Thus, when he wakes up in her garbage-apartment, he obliviously freaks out. He then discover she is a fellow piano students, some years behind him, and even thought her way to play is as messy as her person, she really is talented. But she always need motivation and has Chiaki is forced to attend class with her, he tries to tutor her, also by beating some sense into her, who get always distracted and tries to kiss him on every chance she gets.
On her part, Nodame starts to attach herself to Chiaki and follows him almost everywhere, even in his apartment begging for a meal cooked by him out of pity. Her favourite and most used phrase will be 'What's for breakfast-lunch-dinner today?'
Even thouth at the start he can't really stand her and always send her flying away, uselessly menacing her, eventually he starts to care about Nodame, and search for her when she is in trouble or depressed or nowhere near him -since it's where she usually is.
Chiaki's life become messy and he unconsciously take care of Nodame every day like a pet. Nevertheless he's stressed out and can't find his way to become a conductor.. that is until the famous conductor Franz Stresemann comes to the academy. He is quite differten to what Chiaki had imagined, and reveled himself to be a talented but perverted old man. Stresmann reveals his intention to conduct an orchestra, but not the official one, he goes around scouting outcasts for a brand new orchestra, S-Oke. But he hates Viera and that's the reason why he ostracize Chiaki at the start, but thanks to Nodame he gives him a chance..
Spoiler pic. this should be enough to make you melt. Seriously I think I choked that moment..aww Chiaki don't cry!
What will happen to Chiaki and Nodame? Will he be able to get rid of his plane-phobia and take Europe to archive his dream? And Nodame, will she be able to follow him and become a great pianist?
To know that, you have to see the drama, I won't be telling more.
Now onto my review, I have to say I was pretty sceptical, since I loved so much the manga I was thinking that, surely, the drama would let me down. How wrong I was! Just look at the picture, the main actors are so similar and perfect, I'm sure even purists can rest assured.
Other than that all the cast was amazing and so so talented, I actually can't believe how good this drama is. The two main characters are Juri Ueno as Noda Megumi, and Tamaki Hiroshi as Shinichi Chiaki.
I've already show my fangirling side.. ehm, admiration for those two so moving on.. Mine, played by Eita Nagayama. What can I say, I love him. What a wonderful actor!
The only
sketchy thing was...well, Franz Stressman 'Milch'. Originally it had to
be a good-looking european old man. What happened to that? I mean the actor was
clearly a japanese playing a caucasian.. weird. Even his assistant,
Elize, who was supposed to be german like him, was actually a japanese
actress with wig and blue contact lenses -at least. Concerning Stresmann
it seemed more like a parody, like the authors portrayed him like that
on purpose.
For being funny, well it was really hilarious so kudos to them for parodying him into a silly over-comical version of his true self. Other than that I really have nothing to say, I think I'll watch it again.
Drama OSTs:
If I had to give a vote, It'll be 10 / 10.
If you wanna get the dvd here's a useful link:
Nodame Cantabile / Concerto Love Award Winning Japanese Tv Drama with English Sub NTSC All Region (3 dvds in Digipak Boxset) Based on Hit Comic Book
Anyway there are two specials and two movies after this drama, so it doesn't end here! Look forward to those, I think I'll review them too.
