HACHIKO: A DOG’s Story MOVIE Review. HE’s your FRIEND, your PARTNER, your DEFENDER, your DOG.

HACHIKO: A Dog’s Story MOVIE Preview

This One, for Pet Lovers, in 3 Parts.

Part 1 : The REAL Story

The depicted events actually took place …..

Imagine a little known town in Odate, Japan, year 1923.

HACHI lived there with his master, a professor at the Tokyo University.

Every day without fail, HACHI would “yappily” accompany Dr. Ueno to the local train station where the professor left for work.

HACHI would surely return in the evening to greet him.

It was daily rictual, a sentimental journey, a profound bond shared between master and dog.

Until one day Dr. Ueno unexpectedly suffered a stroke whilst teaching and died.

For the next nine years, HACHI would not believe that his beloved master was dead.

He faithfully awaited his return at the Shibuya train station.

A bronze statue now sits in the place where HACHI waited.

This story has been told countless times to Japanese children as a classic example of being true to the memory of a loved one. Anyone.

PART 2 : The REEL Story

This is an American remake of the Japanese canid yarn.

Director LASSE HALLSTROM invites us on an emotional visual experience.

Therefore our scene relocates from the 1930s Japan to contemporary New England.

We are introduced here, to a faithful Akita dog called HACHI.

The heartwarming story centers on Parker Wilson (RICHARD GERE), a music professor who surrenders to the charms of dog ownership.

Every morning, they’d romp and bond together on a “journey”

- from home to the railway station where Parker leaves for work.

When day is done, HACHI would be wagging his tail at the Station in anticipation of his master’s return.

As the years roll by, the whole town becomes enchanted by the daily routine in which Hachi walks Parker to the station in the morning before returning to greet him every afternoon at five.

When Parker suddenly passes on unexpectedly,

his family sells the house and moves away.

But HACHI refuses to follow.

Everyday he’d stoically embark on “his sentimental journey” to the railway station, and keeps this steadfast vigil for almost a decade.

We all know that HACHI’s master will never return.

Sensitively directed, HACHICO is one touching bereavement parable that is likely to break the hearts of dog lovers.

RICHARD GERE does a mesmerizing role as a kindly music professor, always with a twinkle in his eyes, with a soft spot for dogs.

We trace his 3 decades+ acting career from AN AMERICAN GIGOLO when he first started out, to what he is now, tackling mature characters with understated charm.

PART 3: My REAL Story

I’ve always acknowledged actor Aaron Eckhart’s piece on Man’s best friend.

“I have a dog and sometimes I’ll be that little kid again with my dog

and marvel at his ears and his nose and how he looks at me.

If he died, I’d bawl like a baby.”

Anyone who owns a canine pet couldn’t have agreed more.

One of the most loving and unconditional relationships you will ever have is with your dog.

Their sense of loyalty and devotion can be compared to no other.

In return for the companionship they provide, it is our responsibility to show them love and take care of them.

Dogs are genuinely faithful and true to their masters, to the last beat of their hearts.

And we owe it to them to be worthy of such a devotion.

The following is a refresher taken from my other articles about DOGS:

“If misfortune drives the master forth as an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard against danger, to fight against his enemies.

And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes the master in it’s embrace, and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by the graveside will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws, his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true, even in death .”

DOGS guide us to the sunshine world through their eyes.

They teach us to show love to whom we hold so dear, and let them know we care.###HACHI the selfless Akita dog is one fine example.

Just don’t forget to bring a box of tissues along when you watch the film (sniff).

There are simply too many tender moments that’ll make you wanna go home to hug your dog.

So remember:

He’s your FRIEND, your PARTNER, your DEFENDER, your DOG.

Nothing else counts.