The story of Hachiko, already told by the Japanese and by Lasse Hallstrom in a film with Richard Gere, was now made by director Xu Ang, with emotion and without sentimentality
Whoever knows the history of Japanese dog Hachikowhich has a monument at Shibuya Station, Tokyo, or has seen “Hachiko monogatari”, by Seijiro Koyama, with Tatsuya Nakadai, either “Hachi: A Dog’s Tale,” by Lasse Hallstrom, with Richard Gerewhich was called here “Always by your side”knows that there cannot be a “Hachiko 2”unless the animal is resurrected.
But the Chinese remake that we now see took that name for its international sale, and someone here added the 2 and “Always by your side.” In short, these are things that happen. The good thing is that the Chinese version is on par with the previous onesthat is, it has a honest emotion, a calm, sentimental tone, never maudlin, memorable moments, pleasant music, good director and good performers. To the head, Jugang Baithe best known Joan Chenand the dog.
Of course, there are variants. The animal’s name is not Achiko but Batong, is not an Akita Inu breed but a Chinese shepherd, and he does not wait for his owner at the train station, but at the entrance to the cable car in the city of Chongquing. Precisely, the bulk of the story is set at the beginning of this century, when people had to cross the Yangtze River by cable car. That is left for tourists today, because enormous bridges have been built.
The city is different, more modern and huge, and the dog’s owner was already imagining these changes with some sadness. Here he mourns the death of loved ones, but also the abrupt urban development of Chinese society. And, yes, a little more attention is added to family relationships, unlike previous versions, both of which adhered to the master’s script. Kaneto Shindo.
Other changes are expected to have occurred, because in a certain scene set in that not-so-distant time, the man must go out in desperation in search of the little animal that the woman gave to a market stallholder. In “Kuma-Ching” Luis Sandrini He enters a seedy inn, a stray dog also enters, he pets it and the waiter approaches: “Do you like the dog, sir? She immediately prepared it for him.” It’s a comedy, and the dog is saved. Here too, but it is not a comedy, but a gentle melodrama with some smiles and a sweet sadness. Tenderness predominates, and even more so the obligation to have a handkerchief on hand. Or a box of tissues.
Director, Xu Angwho previously made a remake of “Twelve men in conflict” baptized “Shier ge gongmin”, twelve citizens. In the one we see, four dogs of different ages performed, with a total of fifteen doubles, just in case. But in the Hallstrom only three acted. He himself told it years ago in San Sebastián: “We had three. One who knew how to stare and stay still for the shots. Another, who jumped and was affectionate. And the third one pretended to be old. After six months of training, his owner told him “Play the old man” and the dog walked very sad and as if his bones hurt. A true actor!”
“Hachiko 2. Always by your side” (Hachiko, China, 2023); Dir.: Xu Ang; Int.: Jugang Bai, Joan Chen, Xiaogang Feng.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
