I originally saw the trailer for this movie and being a dog lover, I thought it would be a good watch with the high IMDb rating it received, I wasn’t wrong..
Coincidently, what sparked my interest to finally watch this movie whilst being stuck at home sick was the fact that my mother managed to watch this movie before me (which is a rare occurrence) and the feedback I got from her was “Why did you give this movie to me? I was crying non-stop”. I thought to myself, how upsetting can this movie really be? Well, I was in for a surprise..
To loosely describe the plot of the movie; it is based on the true story of a college professor’s bond with an abandoned dog he takes into his home. For the real and full background of this remarkable dog, check out this Wikipedia entry
The movie is definitely watchable if you just pick it up without having an understanding of the temperament of this certain breed. However, knowing the background of this breed will give a better understanding of its character and the type of personality they have. The “Akita Inu” is renowned for its intelligence and loyalty to its owner, as witnessed throughout the movie. It also goes to show that sometimes even animals hold values and traits better than some humans can; loyalty and faith in this instance.
Initially, it seems as though Professor Parker Wilson (played by Richard Gere) is the main character in this movie, but when the Professor passes away – we come to learn that Hachi really is and always was. What I thought was a nice touch was the fact that not only were we given a view from the humans side, but also a view from Hachi himself – a dog’s eye view which really helps to gather feelings and an understanding of the dog.
The movie is quite enjoyable up to the point where the Professor passes away. At this point, you are strapped into an emotional rollercoaster with no way out.. Even as a grown man I couldn’t hold myself together emotionally. I think I pretty much cried until the end of the movie and some more after it was actually over, the last 20-30 minutes of the movie are just simply that upsetting.
I can honestly say I have never been that upset after watching a movie based around animals. I guess because of the fact I’ve had strong bonds with several dogs over the past decade and a half (1 being my own, 3 being my cousins dog’s), I can sympathise and understand how Hachi would be feeling.
As a young kid, did you need a tissue at the end of Free Willy when he was set free? Well, have a towel ready if you find the courage to watch this movie, because I’m telling you now, you will without a doubt be crying by the end of it.
Hachiko: A Dog’s Story needs to be watched, at least once – as a dog lover or not.
Filed in Delayed Movie Reviews