Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009)

My Review

“Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” is a remarkable story of a dog and his loyalty to his owner, who found him as a stray and took care of him for many years. Swedish director Hasse Hallstrom (“My Life as a Dog” 1985) put together an unapologetic tear-jerker with good production values, memorable performances, and high-quality writing by Stephen P. Lindsay. It is a remake of a 1987 Japanese movie “Hatchiko Monogatari” from Kaneto Shindo.

The cast is headed by Richard Gere as the dog owner, Prof. Parker Wilson, whose pooch waits for him everyday at the train station for him to arrive home from work. The dog, Hachi Wilson, is portrayed by three dogs: Layla, Chico, and Forrest. Co-stars include Joan Allen, Jason Alexander, Erick Avari, Sarah Roemer, and Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. The watchable “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale” was popular in theatrical release for producer Richard Gere, Stage Six Films, Affirm Films, and Sony Pictures Entertainment. It was filmed in Rhode Island.