"TV Preview Room" is a column where reporters review television programs of various genres, from dramas and documentaries to variety shows and anime, before they air. This time, we introduce "TV Asahi Drama Premium: The Innocent Witness," which will be broadcast on TV Asahi from 9:00 PM to 10:54 PM on April 18th.
This film is a remake of the eponymous movie released in South Korea in 2019, which was a huge hit with over 2.3 million viewers. The script was written by Moon Ji-won, known for the drama "Woo Young-woo, the Lawyer," which was also a hot topic in Japan, and won the grand prize at the "Lotte Scenario Contest." It is a human drama depicting the emotional connection between a lawyer handling a murder case and a girl with autism spectrum disorder who is the sole witness to the crime. Toshiaki Karasawa plays Toshiaki Karasawa, a lawyer who gave up his path as a human rights advocate to work for a large corporation, and Ami Touma plays Nozomi Koike, the girl with autism spectrum disorder who holds the key to the story.
While the story revolves around a murder case, its appeal lies more in its human drama than in its suspense. Karasawa carefully portrays Hasebe, who has given up his dream of becoming a human rights lawyer, as he changes through his interactions with Nozomi. Through Hasebe's perspective, who is ignorant about autism spectrum disorder, the film prompts viewers to reconsider what "normal" truly means.
And leaving a strong impression was Toma, who took on the challenging role of a girl with autism spectrum disorder. She commented that it was "the first time I'd played this role, and it was an unknown world for me," but she delivered a delicate and convincing performance. Toma, who is attracting attention as a top young actor, showed a new side of herself with such a good performance that it would be a shame to limit it to just a one-off drama.
Atsuko Sendo, who plays the housekeeper who is the defendant in the murder case, also exudes a powerful presence. The scene where she confronts Nozomi in the rain left a strong impression. Akira Emoto, who plays the managing lawyer of the firm who asks Hasebe to play the "dirty work," also tightens the story with his impressive presence.
The dialogue between Karasawa and Toma is deeply moving, resulting in a high-quality remake drama.
