Hachi: A Dog's Story

“Hachi: A Dog’s Story” is a heartwarming and inspiring family drama that tells the story of one dog’s unwavering loyalty and devotion. When college professor, Parker Wilson (Richard Gere), discovers a rather unlikely commuter wandering around the train station, he takes the adorable lost Akita puppy home with him. Parker and his new canine friend, Hachi (Hachikō), soon form a bond that cannot be broken. Hachi follows Parker to the train station every day and returns to the station every evening to greet his beloved master after work.

On one very sad day, Parker leaves for work and becomes deathly ill, never to return to the station again. Even after Parker passes away, Hachi faithfully returns to the station everyday for the next nine years, until his death, to wait for his beloved master. During those nine years, this amazing dog touches the lives of the vendors, the stationmaster, and the many commuters at the station square, as teaches them the true meaning of loyalty, devotion, and love. Hachi’s unyielding devotion and love for his master soon gains media attention, and this dog’s amazing story not only touches the lives of those at the station square, but all who learn about Hachi’s love and devotion.

This film is an American adaptation of a true story set in 1925 Japan about a professor and his devoted dog, Hachikō. Today, a bronze statue of Hachi sits in the Shibuya Station in Japan in honor of his faithfulness and loyalty.

Positive Content

“Hachi: A Dog’s Story” is one of the most refreshingly clean films that I have seen in a very long time. This is the kind of movie that families can watch together without worrying if it is going to suddenly become crude or profane.

This film reinforces the principles of devotion, love, selflessness, and faithfulness, and its positive portrayal of a loving family reveres marriage and traditional family values. These fruits of the spirit and this film’s respect for family and marriage are brought to life through many sweet and tender moments throughout the movie. We see Parker and Hachi share a bowl of popcorn, as they sit on the couch together, while watching a Yankees game. Parker also gets down on all fours to try to teach the puppy how to play fetch. Viewers will be touched as they watch the bond of friendship and loyalty strengthen between this cute puppy and his newfound master.

We, also, see a positive relationship between Parker and his wife Cate (Joan Allen) and their college-age daughter. Their daughter invites her boyfriend over to her parent’s house for a family barbecue. The relationship between Parker and Cate is a stable and loving marriage of 25 years, and their commitment to each other can be seen in many moments throughout the film.

This motion picture not only holds up from a moral standpoint, but it also holds its own from a cinematic perspective. Director, Lasse Hallström’s choice of musical score, soft piano music, enhances the film’s pathos beautifully, and his creative use of black and white shots shows the audience Hachi’s perspective of the world around him. Richard Gere’s interaction with the adorable Hachi is a joy to watch and will put a smile on your face. The chemistry between Richard Gere and Joan Allen, as husband and wife, is also touching, as they believably portray a happily married couple, whose love for one another is lasting.

The film begins with Parker’s grandson, Ronnie (Kevin DeCoste), explaining to his class that his hero is his grandfather and Hachi, because their inspirational story has taught him the true meaning of loyalty. This incredible story of loyalty has not only inspired Parker’s family and the locals at the train station, but as viewers watch the many scenes of Hachi’s unwavering devotion, as he waits outside of the station in heat and snow, day and night, all while bringing out the best in the locals, you and your family will be inspired by this touching story, too.

Objectionable Content

There is really nothing offensive in this film, but I will mention the few things that may be slightly bothersome to some viewers. Parker and his wife exchange a few kisses throughout the film. It should be noted that these are not overly passionate kisses, but rather tender kisses exchanged by a couple in a loving and happy marriage. Parker and Cate sip on a glass of champagne together (they do not get drunk). Later, they lie in bed next to each other, as they talk about their love and laugh with one another. (These moments are not at all sexual in nature; rather they serve to portray marriage in a positive light.)

There is one misuse of God’s name, and one of Parker’s fellow professors tells him that the Japanese symbol on the small tag that he found around Hachi’s neck, when he picked him up at the train station, represents the Japanese number 8 (hachi or hachiko). He tells Parker that the number 8 (hachi) is a number of good fortune and the spiritual significance of 8 in Japanese culture reaches up to heaven and comes down to Earth.

Summary and Recommendations

Overall, this film brings a breath of fresh air into the secular film world, where so-called “family films” are all too often littered with crude jokes and mild profanities, but “Hachi: A Dog’s Story” does not resort to these offensive staples of the modern “family friendly” film. I highly recommend this well-acted and moving film about a dog and his master to audiences of all ages, because this film is not only a delight to watch, but its tender lessons of loyalty, friendship, commitment, and love, as well as its positive portrayals of family and marriage leave audiences with some important ideals to discuss with their families.

Violence: None / Profanity: Mild / Sex/Nudity: None

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