I'm doing a joint review of these two dramas, not because I'm lazy (though I am) but because as good adaptations of the manga Nodame cantabile by Ninomiya Tomoko, or remake of one another, I would have repeated myself.
I've watched Nodame Cantabile twice but it's been some years and I've just watched Nae Il's Cantabile for the first time. I had actually read part of the manga, for once, and from what I remembered, the Japanese drama was quite faithful.
Japanese title : のだめカンタービレ
11 episodes
Aired on Fuji TV
From 2006 October to December
+ 1 special (2 ep, 2008) + 2 movies (2009 and 2010)
Main cast :
- Ueno Juri as Noda Megumi
- Tamaki Hiroshi as Chiaki Shinichi
- Eita as Mine Ryutaro
- Koide Keisuke as Okuyama Masumi
- Mizukawa Asami as Miki Kiyora
- Saeko as Saku Sakura
- Uehara Misa as Tagaya Saiko
- Takenaka Naoto as Franz Stresemann
- Fukushi Seiji as Kuroki Yasunori
- Mukai Osamu as Kikuchi Toru
- Toyohara Kosuke as Eto Kozo
- Nishimura Masahiko as Tanioka Hajime
- Ibu Masato as Mine Tatsumi
Production credits :
- Screenwriter : Etou Rin
- Producers : Wakamatsu Hiroki, Shimizu Kazuyuki
- Directors : Takeuchi Hideki, Kawamura Taisuke, Tanimura Masaki
Korean title : 내일도 칸타빌레
Other title : Tomorrow Cantabile
16 episodes
Aired on KBS2
From 2014 October to December
Main cast :
- Shim Eun Kyung as Sul Nae Il (Noda Megumi)
- Joo Won as Cha Yoo Jin (Chiaki Shinichi)
- Go Kyung Pyo as Yoo Il Rak (Mine Ryutaro)
- Park Bo Gum as Lee Yoon Hoo
- Jang Se Hyun as Ma Soo Min (Okuyama Masumi)
- Min Do Hee as Choi Min Hee (Saku Sakura)
- Bae Min Jung as Jung Shi Won (Miki Kiyora)
- Baek Yoon Shik as Franz Streseman
- Kim Yoo Mi as Chae Do Kyung (Tagaya Saiko)
- Lee Byung Joon as Do Kang Jae (Eto Kozo)
- Nam Goong Yun as Ahn Gun Sung (Tanioka Hajime)
- Ye Ji Won as Song Mi Na
- Ahn Kil Kang as Yoo Won Sang (Mine Tatsumi)
Production credits :
- Chief Producer : Hwang Eui Kyung ; producers : Kim Jin Won, Park Woo Ram
- Directors : Han Sang Woo, Lee Jung Mi
- Screenwriters: Park Pil Joo, Shin Jae Won
Notes : Funny how I've just rewatched Secret Garden in which Lee Byung Joon and Kim Ji Sook also appear, in very different roles.
Review : Fav !
Title : Makes sense since these dramas revolve around students in a music school, and especially around the impact that the character Noda Megumi or Nodame / Nae Il has.
Girl : She's a tricky character to play because she's eccentric and childish, which can easily be annoying and ridiculous, but I think that both actresses nailed it. She's a piano genius but she doesn't want to make it her career. She's obstinate, honest, warm, lovable and doesn't care how she is perceived by people. (+)
Boy : He's also a genius in so many things. He's confident, hard-working and perfectionnist. Also closed-off emotionnally and struggles to express his feelings. (+)
Relationship : This shouldn't work. But it does. These two characters, also surrounded by their friends, help each other to grow and to overcome what is keeping them from achieving their true potentials. They also have the same passion for classical music and admire their respective talent.
Plot : The plot deals mostly with the growth of the characters, through the challenges they face individually and in relation to each other.
The Korean adaptation adds some power struggles at the head of the school, which was not that interesting but also not bad enough to ruin the drama.
Other characters : Characters are interesting and likable. The Korean adaptation has a new character, but, as with the other changes they've made, it fits well.
What the... ? Nodame/Nae Il is a quirky character, maybe she would be too much for some people ? Another tricky character is Stresemann and I'm actually glad they toned down his "pervert" side in the Korean adaptation.
Funny : Yes.
Music : Most diegetic and non diegetic music in these dramas are classical pieces. Classical music is at the heart of the story. You don't need to know anything about it (I don't) to like it and maybe these dramas will make you appreciate how beautiful and emotional classical music is.
Bonus : A glimpse of Salzburg !
Bottom line : I love the characters, in every iteration, their relationships and to watch them learn and grow. It's not realistic at all but it's very satisfying, funny, with sublime music. Fav !
