It is a classic, but thoroughly exhausting film. My wife and I struggled to hold back tears the last 20 minutes of the story. The subtle sounds of the soundtrack, and even silence, pervade through the latter half of the film, adding a poignancy to the plight of all characters, including Hachi. One of the true gifts to this movie is the sparse amount of dialogue. Hallström has not approached a movie with such nuance since What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? And, after the debacle that was Dear John, it had begun to look as if his best days were behind him.

Hachi… (also know abroad as Hachiko) is full of very nice touches. He works on this for a considerable amount of time before discovering from Ken that Akitas do not fetch, ‘unless there is a reason to do so.’ This, of course, is prevalent to the plot, but nonetheless a very nice touch. His wife Cate (Allen) is at first nonplussed by the idea, but she comes to accept the dog’s newfound role in your husband’s life.Ī curious plot device is the attempt by Parker to teach the dog to fetch. Hachi is at first a curious surprise, he bonds with the puppy and learns much about his breed in a short time with the help of his friend, Ken (Tagawa). As Professor Parker Wilson, Richard Gere is open to everything. These modifications change not one whit the spirit of the film.

Hachi is found at the train station after his crate is busted open.

The time is now in the late 90’s through the 2000’s.

The location is moved from just outside of Tokyo to outside of Bristol, Connecticut.

That they have added some touches here and there: Hachi is a somber, beautiful and hopeful and very real drama for those who have ever had love for a dog and, indeed, felt that love returned. This continued for a couple of years when, after suffering a fatal cerebral hemorrhage at work, his master did not come home. The dog, Hachiko, would then go home, and when 5 o’clock came, he’d be waiting for his master at the station. Back in 1920’s Japan, a professor at the University of Tokyo, had an Akita pup named Hachiko, that walked with him everyday to the train station. Starring Richard Gere, Joan Allen, Sara Roemer, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Jason Alexander, Erick AvariĪ movie comes around every once in a while that tells a tale so astounding, that no one could make it up.

Hachi a dogs tale cast