Rating: 4/5
HACHIKO: A DOG’S STORY
Drama. 2009. 93 min. With Richard Gere, Joan Allen and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. Director: Lasse Hallström. PG.
Animal movies tend to be over-sentimental but here a simple story about a dog is turned into something that can change lives as the director of films such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape skilfully unfolds a tale of loyalty and the importance of caring for others.
It’s based on a true story from Japan: a monk sends a dog all the way from the East to America where it ends up – seemingly by accident–with a professor of music and dance. What follows is a story that will see the most hardened film fan needing tissues.
If you enjoyed Marley&Me you may find this dog movie a bit too underplayed but it’s thanks to this tempered, controlled touch that it has such impact. You too may just want to travel to Shibuya Station to lay flowers at Hachiko’s statue!