A true story of faith, devotion and undying love.|Jun. 13, 2009|United Kingdom, United States|93 Min.|TV-PG
Genre: Drama;Family
Description: Ronnie shares the inspiring story of his grandfather and his loyal dog, Hachiko, during a school presentation about personal heroes.
The tale begins when Parker Wilson, a music professor commuting to Providence, Rhode Island, discovers a lost puppy at the Bedridge train station. He takes the puppy home for the night, unaware that it had been shipped from a Japanese monastery to the U.S., with its tag accidentally torn during transit. When no one claims the puppy, Parker decides to keep him, and the two form a strong bond. Parker’s friend Ken, a Japanese professor, identifies the dog as an Akita and explains that the character on the collar means “eight” or “hachi” in Japanese. Although Parker’s wife, Cate, initially resists, she eventually warms up to Hachi, who sleeps in his own shed outside.
As Hachi grows older, he develops a unique routine. After digging under the fence one morning, he follows Parker to the train station, refusing to leave. Parker eventually accepts this new behavior, and a daily pattern emerges: Hachi accompanies Parker to the station in the morning, returns home, and comes back to wait for him at 5 p.m. Parker is amazed that Hachi somehow knows when his train is due.
Despite Parker’s efforts, Hachi refuses to learn typical dog behaviors like fetching. Ken humorously explains that Akitas are independent and will only fetch for a special reason. Over time, Hachi becomes a beloved part of the family, even appearing in their daughter Andy’s wedding photo. The story takes a touching turn when Andy announces her pregnancy, further cementing Hachi’s place in their lives.
Cast director: Lasse Hallström
Cast actor: Richard Gere, Joan Allen, Sarah Roemer, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Erick Avari, Robbie Sublett, Davenia McFadden, Jason Alexander, Kevin DeCoste, Robert Degnan
Original name: Hachi: A Dog’s Tale