Hachi: A Dog's Tale
Cast: Jason Alexander, Joan Allen, Richard Gere, Erick Avari, Rober Capron, Davenia McFadden, and others |
Director: Lasse Hallstrom |
Producer: Inferno Distribution, Grand Army Entertainment, Opperman Viner Chrystyn Entertainment, Scion Films, and others |
Genre: Family Drama |
Run time: 93 minutes |
Year of release: 2009 |
"Hachi: A Dog's Story" is a heartwarming and inspiring family drama that tells the story of a dog's unwavering loy- alty and devotion. When college professor, Parker Wilson (Richard Gere), discovers a rather unlikely commuter wandering around the train station, he takes the lost Akita puppy home with him. Parker and his new canine friend, Hachi, soon form a bond that cannot be broken. Hachi follows Parker to the train station every day and returns to the station every evening to greet his beloved master after work.
On one very sad day, Parker leaves for work and becomes deathly ill, never to return to the station again. Even after Parker passes away, Hachi faithfully returns to the station everyday for the next nine years, until his death, to wait for his beloved master. During those nine years, this amazing dog touches the lives of the vendors, the stationmaster, and the many commuters at the station square. He teaches them the true meaning of loyalty, devotion, and love. Hachi's unyielding devotion and love for his master soon gains me- dia attention. This dog's amazing story not only touches the lives of those at the station square, but all who learn about Hachi's love and devotion.
This film is an American adaptation of a true story set in 1925 Japan about a professor and his devoted dog. Today, a bronze statue of Hachi stands in the Shibuya Station in Japan in honour of his faithfulness and loyalty. We, also, see a positive relationship between Parker and his wife Cate (Joan Allen) and their college-age daughter. The relationship between Parker and Cate is a stable and loving marriage of 25 years, and their commitment to each other can be seen in many moments throughout the film.
This film reinforces the values of marriage and traditional family. The film's respect for family and marriage is brought to life through many sweet and tender moments throughout the movie. We see Parker and Hachi share a bowl of popcorn, as they sit on the couch together while watching a Yankees game. Parker also gets down on "all fours to try to teach the puppy how to play fetch. Viewers will be touched as they watch the bond of friendship and loyalty between this cute puppy and his newfound master.
This motion picture not only holds up from a moral standpoint, but it also holds its own from a cinematic point of view. Director, Lasse Hallstrom's choice of musical score, soft piano music, enhances the film's pathos beautifully. His creative use of black and white shots shows the audience Hachi's perspective of the world around him. Richard Gere's interaction with the adorable Hachi is a joy to watch and will put a smile on your face. The chemistry between Rich- ard Gere and Joan Allen, as husband and wife, is also touching, as they believably portray a happily married couple, whose love for one another is lasting.
This incredible story of loyalty and unwavering devotion has in- spired Parker's family and the locals at the train station. As the dog waits outside of the station in heat and snow, day and night, you and your family will be inspired by this touching story.
There are a few things that may be slightly bothersome to some viewers. Parker and his wife exchange a few kisses throughout the film. It should be noted that these are not passionate kisses, but rather the tender ones exchanged by a couple in a loving and happy marriage. Parker and Cate sip a glass of champagne together. Later, they lie in bed next to each other, as they talk about their love and laugh with one another. Some viewers see the number '8' around Hachi's neck as a misuse of it. The Japanese number 8 symbolises God which represents good fortune and the spiritual significance.
Overall, this film brings a breath of fresh air into the secular film world, where so-called "family films" are all too often littered with crude jokes and mild profanities, but "Hachi: A Dog's Story" does not resort to these offensive staples of the modern "family friendly" film. The movie is one of the most refreshingly clean films that I have seen in a very long time. This is the kind of movie that families can watch together.
- Adapted from a film review by Laura Busch published in Christian Spotlight on Entertainment
[please don’t forget the format: WORD+Its phonetic transcription in Column A, All the related synonyms in column B, and meaning for grade 7 level in column C]
A. Find the words from the text for the meanings given below.
a. ....Unwavering....never changing or becoming weaker |
b. ....Devotion....great love, care and support for somebody/ something |
c. ....Commuter....a person who travels some distance to work on a regular basis |
d. ....Vendor....a person or Company that sells goods or services |
e. .....Adaptation.....the act of changing something to make it suitable for a new situation |
f. ....Reinforce....to strengthen with some added piece, support, or material |
g. ....Passionate....having or showing strong feelings |
h. ....Cinematic....connecting with film and how they are made |
i. ....Secular....not having any connection with religion |
B. State whether the following statements are true or false.
a. Laura Busch is one of the characters in the movie. False |
b. The dog is the symbol of love. devotion and loyalty. True |
c. The story Of the movie is based on a real incident. True |
d. Portraying the traditional values of marriage is one of the weaknesses of the movie. False |
e. The strong bonding between the dog and his master makes everyone emotional. True |
f. This film is different from Other family films. True |
C. Answer these questions.
a. What is the name of the dog in the movie? |
Answer: The name of the dog in the movie is Hachi. |
b. Who directed the movie? |
Answer: The movie was directed by Lasse Hallstrom. |
c. How was the relationship between the dog and his master? |
Answer: The relationship between the dog, Hachi, and his master, Parker Wilson, was strong and filled with love and loyalty. |
d. Why was the statue of the dog made? |
Answer: The statue of the dog was made to honor Hachi's faithfulness and loyalty. |
e. Write any two weaknesses of the film. |
Answer: Two weaknesses of the film are not mentioned in the text, so we cannot provide specific weaknesses based on the given information. |
f. What things in the movie touch the heart of the audience? |
Answer: The strong bond between the dog and his master, as well as the dog's unwavering devotion and loyalty, touch the hearts of the audience in the movie. |
Word Meaning
Column A |
heartwarming /ˈhɑːrtˌwɔːrmɪŋ/ |
touching, moving, uplifting |
evoking positive emotions and warmth |
unwavering /ʌnˈweɪvərɪŋ/ |
steadfast, resolute, constant |
not changing or faltering |
devotion /dɪˈvoʊʃən/ |
loyalty, dedication, commitment |
deep love and loyalty |
commuter /kəˈmjuːtər/ |
traveler, passenger |
person who regularly travels between home and work |
canine /ˈkeɪnaɪn/ |
dog, puppy |
relating to dogs |
passes-away /ˈpæsɪzəˈweɪ/ |
dies, departs, passes on |
ceases to live |
vendors /ˈvɛndərz/ |
sellers, merchants |
people who sell goods or services |
commuters /kəˈmjuːtərz/ |
travelers, passengers |
people who regularly travel between home and work |
unyielding /ˌʌnˈjiːldɪŋ/ |
unwavering, steadfast, firm |
not giving in or changing |
adaptation /ˌædæpˈteɪʃən/ |
version, modification |
a modified or altered form |
faithfulness /ˈfeɪθfʊlnəs/ |
loyalty, devotion, constancy |
being loyal and true |
stable /ˈsteɪbəl/ |
steady, secure, reliable |
steady and reliable |
reinforces /ˌriːɪnˈfɔːrsɪz/ |
strengthens, supports, underlines |
makes stronger or more firmly established |
tender /ˈtɛndər/ |
gentle, loving, affectionate |
gentle and caring |
cinematic /ˌsɪnɪˈmætɪk/ |
filmic, movie, visual |
related to movies or filmmaking |
enhances /ɪnˈhænsɪz/ |
improves, enriches, heightens |
improves or adds to the quality or effect |
pathos /ˈpeɪθɑːs/ |
emotion, sentiment, feeling |
evoking pity or sadness |
portray /pɔrˈtreɪ/ |
depict, represent, show |
represent or show in a particular way |
incredible /ɪnˈkrɛdəbəl/ |
amazing, astonishing, extraordinary |
extremely remarkable or impressive |
bothersome /ˈbɒðərsəm/ |
annoying, irritating, troublesome |
causing annoyance or inconvenience |
passionate /ˈpæʃənət/ |
intense, fervent, ardent |
characterized by intense feelings or desires |
sip /sɪp/ |
drink, taste, take a small drink |
take a small amount of liquid into the mouth |
champagne /ʃæmˈpeɪn/ |
sparkling wine |
a type of sparkling wine |
good fortune /ɡʊd ˈfɔːrˌtʃuːn/ |
luck, success, blessings |
positive and favorable events or circumstances |
spiritual significance /ˈspɪrɪtʃuəl sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəns/ |
religious meaning, metaphysical importance |
significance related to spirituality or religion |
secular /ˈsɛkjələr/ |
non-religious, worldly, non-spiritual |
not related to religion or spirituality |
profanities /prəˈfænətiz/ |
obscenities, vulgarities, curses |
offensive or disrespectful language |
offensive /əˈfɛnsɪv/ |
unpleasant, objectionable, rude |
causing anger or annoyance |
staples /ˈsteɪpəlz/ |
common elements, regular features, standard aspects |
typical or common components |
Extra Questions to Practice
Expandable FAQ Section
What is the title of the movie?
▼
The title of the movie is "Hachi: A Dog's Tale."
What kind of story is "Hachi: A Dog's Tale"?
▼
"Hachi: A Dog's Tale" is a heartwarming and inspiring family drama.
What is the name of the college professor in the movie?
▼
The college professor's name is Parker Wilson.
How does Hachi show his loyalty to Parker?
▼
Hachi follows Parker to the train station every day and returns every evening to greet him.
What happens to Parker in the movie?
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Parker becomes deathly ill and never returns to the train station.
How long does Hachi continue to wait at the train station after Parker's passing?
▼
Hachi continues to wait at the train station every day for the next nine years after Parker's passing.
Who does Hachi's unwavering devotion touch?
▼
Hachi's devotion touches the lives of the vendors, the stationmaster, and the commuters at the station square.
Where is the bronze statue of Hachi located?
▼
The bronze statue of Hachi is located in the Shibuya Station in Japan.
What values does the film reinforce?
▼
The film reinforces the values of loyalty, devotion, and traditional family.
What is the significance of the number '8' around Hachi's neck?
▼
The number '8' symbolizes good fortune and spiritual significance in Japanese culture.
What does the statue of Hachi represent?
▼
The statue of Hachi represents his faithfulness and loyalty.
What is the main theme of the movie?
▼
The main theme of the movie is the bond of loyalty between a dog and his master.
How does the movie differ from other family films?
▼
The movie avoids offensive elements commonly found in other family films.
How does Hachi demonstrate his loyalty throughout the movie?
▼
Hachi shows his loyalty by following his master, Parker, to the train station every day and waiting for him to return.
How does Hachi's story impact the lives of people at the train station?
▼
Hachi's story touches the lives of the vendors, the stationmaster, and the commuters, teaching them about loyalty, devotion, and love.