Hatchi - A Dogs Tale.

Yesterday I watched Hatchi - A Dogs Tale.

I was eager to watch this movie from longtime. I heard and read lot about this movie. but due to various reasons, I didn't get a chance to see this film. finally yesterday I got a chance and while nearing the climax, few times the scenes became blur, then I realized this is because of the tears in my eyes. The loyalty of Hatchi made me emotional. the movie is based on a true story.

The story is about the puppy, sent from japan to US, but his cage falls off the baggage cart at an American train station, where the puppy is found by Praker Wilson [Richard Gere] a college professor. Parker decides to call the dog 'Hachi', after learning from his colleague, a Japanese college professor,the symbol on the pup's collar is 'Hachi  number 8 in Japanese, which signifies good fortune. what follows is how Parker and Hatchi becomes closer to one another. 

Every morning, Hachi goes with professor to train station. Hachi leaves after Parker's safe departure, but comes back in the afternoon to see his master's train arrive and walk with him home again. this becomes a routine.

One afternoon Parker attempts to leave, but Hachi barks and refuses to go with him.  At work that day Parker,is teaching his music class when he suddenly suffers a fatal heart attack and dies.

At the train station, Hachi waits patiently as the train arrives, but there is no sign of Parker. He remains, lying in the snow, for several hours, until Parker's son-in-law Michael comes to collect him. For the next nine years, Hachi waits for his owner at the train station.

Ten years after Parker's death, Cate [Praker's wife] comes back to visit Parker's grave. Arriving at the station, she is stunned to see Hachi, old, dirty and weak, still waiting for his master. At home, Cate tells the now ten-year-old grandson Ronnie about Hachi.

After nine long years of waiting faithfully for his dead master,In the cold snowy night as people walk out of the station exit he recollects those joyful moments of his life that he had spent with his master. Then, his master appears at the station exit. Hachiko feels the years and weariness drop away from him. He runs to greet his master who takes him away to a place where the two of them would be together forever. Hachi is then shown alone one last time lying on the snow with his eyes closed before the camera sweeps upward into the night-time sky.

The real Hachikō, who was born in Ōdate in 1923. After the death of his owner, Hidesaburo Ueno, in 1925, Hachikō returned to the Shibuya train station the next day and every day after that for the next nine years. A photo of his statue in the Shibuya train station is the last image shown before the credits roll.

The Dog acted as Hatchi steels the show overshadowing Richard Gere's performance , especially towards the climax.

Jan A. P. Kaczmarek's music adds the perfect emotion to the movie and Cinematography of Ron Fortunato should be appreciated. For Hatch's perspective they have used dichrome (black and white) in the scenes, because as we know, dogs are dichromats.

Lasse Hallström the director has done a very good job. The other move I was impressed with Lasse was Dear John.

Hatchi - A Dogs Tale is a must watch movie.