Wednesday, 28 December 2011

28th Dec 2011 Hachi - A Dog's Tale

Dec 28A
Saw another movie the other night 'Hachiko - A Dog's Story', a real tear jerker. Made in 2009, starred Richard Gere. It's a remake of a film of 1987, which was in turn based on a true story happened in Japan, a moving film about loyalty and the rare, invincible bonds that occasionally form almost instantaneously in the most unlikely people with animals.

An Asian breed Akita dog was being transported to the United States. During the journey it's cage fell off the vehicle and the dog roamed along the railway tracks and stations totally lost. A professor of music found him and decided to take him home and try to locate the owner, but failed. From the dog's collar, the professor learned the dog's given name Hachi. The relationship between the two greatly strengthened. The dog had adopted the custom of accompanying him everyday to the railway station where he boarded the train to go to work, and waited for him there until he returned.


One day, the professor didn't return ... nor the next day, and the day after that; but the dog went and waited there just the same everyday, rain or shine, even days of snow and blizzard - for 9 years, until he too, died.

The real Hachikō died in 1935. A photo of his statue in the Shibuya train station is the last image shown before the credits roll.
 
My friend laughed and said I am a real cry baby at my age. I am sure there are those out there, like me, who cry buckets while watching this film. I can't help it, nor am I ashamed of it. I cry when I am overjoyed and I cry when I am sad, or moved. Very occasionally, I even cry for I don't know what reason! The saving grace is, I laugh easily too. 
 

Prev: 28th Dec 2011 Funny Coincidences

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