Hachiko: A Dog's Tale

Movie Facts

Directed by: Lasse Hallstrom

Based on: A dog Hachiko's loyalty

Emotions prevailing: Pathetic, painful.  

Music by: Jan A. P. Kaczmarek

Released date: June 13, 2014

Japanese theatrical release poster

Cast

• Hachi is portrayed by three dogs, Chico, Layla, and Forrest
• Richard Gere as Professor Parker Wilson
• Joan Allen as Cate Wilson, his wife
• Sarah Roemer as Andy Wilson, his daughter
• Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa as Ken Fujiyoshi
• Jason Alexander as Carl Boilins
• Erick Avari as Jasjeet, an Indian vendor
• Davenia McFadden as Mary Anne
• Kevin DeCoste as Ronnie
• Tora Hallström as Heather
• Robbie Sublett as Michael
• Robert Capron as a pupil
• Frank Aronson as a Butcher

Screenshot: Hachiko with his master

                 Plot  Credit: (Wikipedia)

Students are giving oral presentations about personal heroes. Ronnie's subject is his grandfather's dog.

Screenshot: Beginning of the movie- Ronnie's presentation

Years earlier, a puppy is sent from Japan to the United States, but escapes when his cage falls off the baggage cart at an American train station. Professor Parker Wilson finds the abandoned dog and when the station controller refuses to take the puppy, he takes it home with the intention of returning the animal to its owner. Initially, Cate Parker does not want them to keep the puppy. Parker learns that the dog is an Akita. The dog has not been claimed when he returns to the station the following morning, so he takes him to the college, where Ken, a Japanese professor, suggests that perhaps the two are meant to be together. He translates the symbol on the collar as 'Hachi'—Japanese for the number 8—signifying good fortune. Parker decides to call the dog Hachikō. Parker attempts to play fetch with Hachi, but he refuses to join in. Cate receives a call from someone wishing to adopt the puppy, but having seen how close her husband is with Hachi, she tells the caller, "Hachi has already been spoken for. "

Parker continues to be mystified by Hachi's refusal to do dog-like activities like chase and fetch. One morning, Parker leaves for work and Hachi follows him to the train station; he refuses to leave until Parker walks him home. Later in the afternoon, Hachi walks to the station, to wait patiently for Parker to come home. Parker relents and walks Hachi to the station every morning. After Parker's train departs, Hachi walks home, returning in the afternoon to see his master's train arrive and go home together. They continue to do this every day.

One day Parker gets ready to leave and Hachi barks at him and refuses to join him. When Parker does leave, Hachi chases him while holding his ball. Parker is surprised but pleased that Hachi is finally willing to play fetch the ball with him. Not wishing to be late for college, Parker catches his train despite Hachi's barking. Later that day Parker is teaching his music class, still holding Hachi's ball, when he suddenly suffers a fatal heart attack and dies.

At the train station, Hachi waits patiently as the train arrives, but there is no sign of Parker. He remains, lying in the snow, for several hours, until Parker's son-in-law Michael (Ronnie Sublett) comes to collect him. The next day, Hachi returns to the station and waits, remaining all day and all night. As time passes, Cate sells the house and Hachi is sent to live with her daughter Andy (Sarah Roemer), Michael, and their baby Ronnie. However, at the first opportunity, he escapes and eventually finds his way back to his old house and then to the station, where he sits at his usual spot, eating hot dogs given to him by Jasjeet, a local vendor. Andy arrives soon after and takes him home, but lets him out the next day to return to the station.

For the next ten years, Hachi waits for his owner. His loyalty is profiled in the local newspaper. Cate comes back to visit Parker's grave where she meets Ken, and says she can't believe ten years have gone by. Walking past the station, she is stunned to see Hachi maintaining his vigil. Overcome with grief, Cate sits and waits for the next train with him. At home, Cate tells the now ten-year-old Ronnie about Hachi. Hachi continues his daily walk to the same spot in front of the train station to his final day when he recollects his life with his master. He then imagines Parker coming out of the station and the two greeting each other. Hachi is last seen lying on the snow, alone and still.

Back in his classroom, Ronnie, forms his conclusion why Hachi will forever be his hero. Ronnie's story has clearly moved the class, with some students holding back tears, even those who had laughed at the beginning. After school, Ronnie is met coming off the school bus by his dad and his own puppy, also named Hachi. Ronnie and Hachi walk down the same tracks where Parker and Hachi had spent so much time together.

The closing cards reveal information about the real Hachikō, who was born in Ōdate in 1923. After the death of his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, in 1925, Hachikō returned to the Shibuya train station the next day and every day after that for the next nine years. The final card reveals that the real Hachikō died in March 1934, but the correct date is March 8, 1935. A photo of his statue in front of the Shibuya train station is the last image shown before the credits roll.

Screenshot: The dog watching his master go to work

Screenshot: The day Professor Parker died

Screenshot: Hachiko waited for his master 
everyday when he went to work 
and for years after his death in the hope of his return

Screenshot: Parker's wife on finding Hachi waiting 
after many years of her husband's death

Screenshot: Hachi waiting for his master slept 
beneath the train to shield him from cold

Review

A soft, slow moving movie covering each and every part of the dog-owner relation in a spell-bounding manner. This movie has the potential to involve the viewer in the entire story as if the viewer was a part of the family. Excellent cinematography. The movie oath to be a success in the eyes of an audience with heart. I have never sobbed so much as I did watching the movie... I have to admit. I just don't know how but the movie's effect was magical... it created a different realm that had the power to draw the audience into loving the delicate, helpless looking dog who continuosly seemed to regret its inability to speak and communicate though it tried to do its best. The dog everyday would go after his master to the station and then he was back to the station each day on time to receive his master. A day the dog didn't come and the professer's expression showed his utmost anxiety. The dog would play with his master but never fetch the ball back. Never. And then the massage session. Lovely experiences. But the most shocking thing comes when we later realise what the dog was trying to do the last day. He was not ready to go with his master, trying to stop him and then when he fails in stopping him, he runs after him with the ball and fetches the ball that day... that single day! May be that was to complete his master's wish because... because Hachi somehow knew it was the professor's last day. How deliberate! How terrible! And then his waiting all his life at the station for his master brings goosebumps... a chill through the body. I just prayed while watching the movie as trains came and went that don't let the dog die. Please don't. The love of the station people for him is another sight to behold. And then at last Hachi dies. A peaceful death one morning after many years of waiting...when it loses patience but still the faith of his master's return glows in his lifeless face.

Years later professor's grandson domesticates a similar dog  and names it Hachi. They together walk through the railway tracks and the story ends as they walk away... undoubtebly with tears in real hearts. It indeed is a good presentation of the loyalty of the dog  and its love for the master. A really good movie.

Some more screenshots

My Star Ratings

SCREENPLAY AND PHOTOGRAPHY- 5/5 stars

MUSIC - 4.5/5 stars

STORYLINE - 5/5 stars

ACTORS' PERFORMANCE - 4.5/5 stars

Total: 3.8/5 stars

Reception

The film received mostly positive reviews from critics.

Rotten Tomatoes, reported that 62% of critics gave the film positive reviews with an average rating of 5.8/10.

Additional Information

On May 19, 2012, a ceremony took place at the train depot at Woonsocket Depot Square, Woonsocket, RI, where "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" was filmed, unveililng a permanent bronze statue of the legendary Japanese dog Hachiko. This is an exact replica of the bronze statue of Hachiko which resides in front of Shibuya Station in Japan. The train depot at One Depot Square is also now known as Hachiko Place. This statue dedication ceremony was part of the Cherry Blossom Festival held in three Rhode Island towns, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket. Many dignitaries, including the Mayor of Woonsocket and the Consul General of Japan attended the ceremony. Two cherry blossom trees were planted by the statue. A visiting guest, who drove up from New Jersey, brought along his Akita-mix Hachi, who was invited to participate at the ribbon-cutting ceremony as a "real-life standin for Hachiko".

Image credit: Google Images