Stalker: Nige Kirenu Ai (1997)

Sometimes clumsily paced, but groundbreaking, suspense drama with an unforgettable soundtrack.

Apparently made at the time when the laws were changing and the topic of stalking was becoming a hot topic. This along with "Stalker Sasou Onna" both aired in 1997. I've only seen this one so far and I thoroughly enjoyed it although I think viewing it in 2024 it may sometimes seem a little bit ridiculous or over the top and also the characters reactions and responses are occasionally unbelievable but I think it was trying to push a more extreme situation to emphasis and explore the idea of what a stalker is and just how little legal protection there was to counter it at the time. There is a real sense in this drama of just "what can you do?" when you have exhausted your options. Where do you go from there? When is the line of breaking the law considered crossed, and how can your prove anything?

Watanabe Atsuro (in what I gather is a role that helped make him famous) plays the stalker and he gives an unforgettable star quality performance that is both disturbing and nuanced. Ranging from extreme emotion to just downright creepy. He somehow manages to play a very charming attractive character in one moment but then an ultimately ugly pitiful character the next. It's very conflicting as a viewer to feel sympathy one minute then repulse the next. There were some truly unsettling but subtle scenes that were so wonderfully acted that reminded me of the movie One Hour Photo (which had yet to be made at the time). I think the quality of this drama really is down to his performance and could have been very mediocre otherwise.

Takaoka Saki as the female lead also holds her own. She plays the purer at first 1 dimensional naive role very well but as the show goes on I enjoyed watching her gain her strength and she became much more layered and convincing. I enjoyed watching her grow through the series. She also does alot of the "right things" (which is something I appreciate in good writing).

If I had any criticism of the characters or story it was the younger sister. I found her character infuriatingly stupid and felt very much a vehicle to progress plot and cause problems than anything genuine. While she did improve as the story went on but it was a weak part of the series and I think the story would been better overall without her involvement.

On the same note, the series in general has a bit off a lull in the middle section and I found myself starting to lost interest as the pace dragged. However it soon shifted into it's final arc and i found myself binging the last few episodes as it became incredibly exciting. I think the show would have bene better cutting 1 or 2 episodes out completely.

The other highlight of the show was the soundtrack. Composed by Sakamoto Ryuichi the theme motif is utterly gorgeous and plays off the often distressing visuals in the drama in an odd juxtaposition that really works. There is real constant melancholy in this show and the song really embodies this sound of a sound of toxic unhealthy "love" full of unreasonable obsession and anguish, but also sympathetic and pitiful. The main song will stay with you long after the show ends.

Anyway, if you want a good suspense thriller with lots of intense acting moments with good music then this is for you.

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