Hachiko: A Dog’s Story

HACHI: A Dog’s Story

(Film Review)

Alessandra B. Laurio

Grade 12 – Zara

Mrs. Angeles

PLOT

Hachiko is a story of a master and a dog's loyalty. The whole story started with the narration of a young man named Ronnie Parker, grandson of Hachiko's owner. He had a task in school wherein he is going to present a story about a hero. And Ronnie picked the story of his grandfather's pet dog. His classmates started to laugh due to the inappropriate subject. Heroes are usually extraordinary people who possess great strength and power, but Ronnie picked a story of a dog. Way back when Professor Wilson Parker was at the train station, he saw a lost puppy that came from Japan. He took the dog and he wanted to return it to its original owner. The dog's breed was Akita, a dog breed of Japan. He named the puppy Hachiko, getting the name from 'Hachi' number 8 in Japanese signifying a good fortune. They tried to find the dog's original owner but after the search, they failed to do so. The wife of Professor Parker doesn't really want to keep the dog and proposed ideas such as putting it to a dog's house but in the end, they do keep Hachiko with them.

Days, weeks, months and years have passed Professor Parker and Hachiko had become comfortable with each other. You can really see the closeness between the two of them. But unlike any other dogs, Hachi didn't seem to like dog activities like others. He doesn't like fetching and catching things. A day passed and Professor Parker needs to go to work. Hachi follows him until he reached the train station and he doesn't want to leave until Professor Parker walks him back home. That afternoon after work, Professor Parker was so surprised to see Hachi waiting for him. It made him adore and love his dog more. It becomes Hachi's routine every day.

While discussing in school, Professor Parker was suddenly attacked by a cerebral hemorrhage that causes for him to die. His dog, Hachi couldn't understand that his master is already gone that's why every day, he continues to do his routine, waiting at the train station for his master to come back home. He waited for hours but his master didn't come. He still waits, in snow expecting for Professor Parker's presence but there's none. The people around the station tells Hachi that Professor Parker already died but the dog seem to not understand.

Mrs. Parker decided to sell their properties and Hachiko is sent to live with Professor Wilson Parker and Mrs. Cate Parker's daughter. Still, Hachi runs back to the train station where he comes back to his spot waiting for his master. Andi Parker takes Hachi back at home but the dog seemed sick so she let Hachi return to the train station. Hachi continued his routine, waiting for his master to come back, sleeping there and living there as if it was his own. The workers around the train station are the ones tooking care of Hachi. Cate decided to visit Professor Parker's grave and met someone resulting for her to see Hachi. She is amazed that the dog is already aged but didn't even change, the dog still loves his owner, Cate's husband. Hachiko, due to aging loses his strength and died. Because of his loyalty, the people around the train station built a statue of Hachi to be reminded of the dog's loyalty.

ACTING

[pic 1]

Professor Wilson Parker 

         The lead character portrayed his role as if he was really the owner of the dog. His acting, in terms of facial expression was natural. Not too expressive and not too exaggerated. He delivered his dialogues well and balanced it with his expressions. As he delivers his lines, he put actions and gestures that are appropriate in the scene. Even his posture is not awkward and he interacts with the other character in a rightful manner. And the interaction between him and the dog seems so believable.

Hachiko 

         It is a great talent that a dog is a character in a film. Hachi didn't show extraordinary tricks compared to other dogs but since tricks aren't needed, it is understandable. Only few feelings are expressed by the dog such as smiling and wigling of his tail when he's excited when Prof. Parker is coming back home. And his mouth is directed down when he is not feeling okay and sad. The dog was able to connect with the viewer’s heart, mainly because it is the purpose of the film. To touch the viewer’s feelings and emotions.

Ronnie

His delivery about his story made the viewers’ attention be into him. It is an essential part because the if the beginning of the film made the viewers interested, it will have made them to watch the film until the end.

Cate Parker and Andy Parker

These two (2) supporting characters had portrayed their role well even though they had few lines compared to other characters. Cate showed her emotions as if she was really touched by the act of Hachi waiting for Mr. Parker. Her facial expression made me sad also. She supported the acting of Professor Parker along the film. The conversations of the two made the story flow of its own, while Andy on the other hand, supported other important and small scenes.