Hachiko: A Dog's Story

After Marley, Hachi is another dog that made me soften my stance toward a film so blatantly kitschy that even the supporting characters are touched by its story. Hallström really knows what he’s doing. He transitions from warm colours in the introduction to increasingly colder colours while doing everything necessary to prevent the film itself from feeling cold. Because the plot of the Japanese original has been shifted from the 1920s to the present, there is no reason to take historical facts into account. Its primary purpose is for the viewer to be touched by the story of an extraordinarily loyal dog. It subordinates everything else to the idea of undying interspecies friendship. So, why not eliminate the negative characters (the new homeowner who hates dogs is missing), the social issues (the stallholder and the bookseller are immune to the crisis) and the theme of intergenerational conflict (the professor, not the daughter, enjoys the dog’s company from the beginning). Besides the main protagonist, there is only one Japanese actor and Ozu-esque cinematography, which has somewhat different reasons than in the case of the master. Hachiko is a perfect adaptation of Japanese material for a Euro-American audience in ways both good and bad. 80% (07/09/2013)

In general, I’m not keen on drooling beasts, but this one was surprisingly cute. I was almost crying by the end, which I consider a personal failure :-D … So, four stars, but I won’t say it’s a great movie, it’s just a well-made safe bet with a pinch of emotional blackmail. (27/06/2013)

A beautiful film about how a dog can be loyal to his master. A beautiful film about how strong the relationship between a dog and a human can be. My only criticism of the film is the soundtrack, but even that didn't "diminish" the film. 4.5 stars. (29/10/2010)

Not that Hachi is the type of movie I normally look for, but I promised that I would give it a try (and promises must be kept at least in April, or whatever month it is right now) and I really liked it a lot. Grampa Richard Gere is a good guy, the dogs who play variously old versions of the title hero are also really fine. Version 1.0 is outrageously cute. And the story is moving, grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go. (05/04/2011)

Hallstrom again pushes for tears at all costs, but he does it in such a natural and unforced way that you can't help but give him a thumbs up. Based on a true story, the tale between master and dog is presented without unnecessary sentimentality or cheesy emotions, in other words, sparingly and accurately. Halfway through the film, you'll be crossing your fingers and cheering for time to stand still for this idyllic family in an idyllic small town where everyone loves each other and everything works out, and that the good things will last forever. Even if it is not realistic. (28/05/2017)

Thanks to the commendably uninspiring distributor's text on the DVD cover, I really had no idea what and who would happen in the film, whether it would be a dog or a master, and thus the story impressed me all the more in the end. Especially in the beginning it's cliché as hell, but over time Hachiko won me over in an unprecedented way and even though it brought me to tears several times, I would definitely not call it emotionally robbing or cheap. It is simply too beautiful for that.__P.S. The "dog" camera was perfect - everyone who has ever had a furry friend was sure to have appreciated it. (13/01/2012)

It may look like a naive attack on the viewer's emotions, but the whole thing is filmed with such love and feeling that I was blown away. The canine hero is brilliant and his insanely sad eyes are the most eloquent proof of how painful the loss of a close friend is.... With hindsight, I have to admit that it’s nothing but emotional exploitation of the harshest kind, but the highly satisfactory first impression is not significantly compromised by this finding. :) (29/06/2012)