Genre: Drama / Family Director(s): Lasse Hallström Release Date: 01 January 2009 Movie rating: 8.1

“Hachiko: A Dog’s Story” is a remake of a 1987 Japanese film with a similar title directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Richard Gere. It is based on the true story of the faithful Akita Inu dog called Hachiko. The film begins with a young boy holding a presentation about personal heroes before the class. The boy is talking about his late grandfather’s dogAkita Inu dog sent from Japan to the US escapes when his cage falls off the cart at a train station. Parker Wilson (Gere), a college professor, finds the puppy and reports it to the station controller who refuses to take him in. Parker at first wants to send the dog to his intended owner, but when no one calls to claim him he decides to keep him. The two form a unique bond, and the dog, now named Hachiko, walks his master to the train station every day for his works, and waits for him in the afternoon at the same place. The affectionate dog never skips this ritual, even though he never engages in any other “dog activities” like fetching the ball. When Parker dies of a sudden heart attack at his work, Hachiko waits for him in vain until Parker’s son in law picks him up. He is sent to live with Parker’s daughter, but he escapes and manages to find his way back to the train station, which he continues to do every day until his final hour. The film then returns to the boy’s presentation, and we see his classmates deeply moved by his story.

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