10 Promises to My Dog

So many movies about pets, especially dogs, that so touching, educating, and amazing of course. Lately, I’ve watched 10 Promises to My Dog. The 10 Promises to My Dog (original title: 犬と私の10の約束 Inu to watashi no 10 no yakusoku) is a Japanese movie directed by Katsuhide Motoki, and released by Shochiku on March 15, 2008. It’s based on a novel by Hare Kawaguchi which was inspired by the anonymously-authored article “The Ten Commandments of Dog Ownership”. And it’s casted by Akane Osawa, Akiko Aitsuki, Akira Fuse, Chizuru Ikewaki, Etsushi Toyokawa, Hana Ebise, Lena Tanaka, Mayuko Fukuda, Mina Fujii, Pierre Taki, Reiko Takashima, Ryo Kase, Shota Sato, and Takashi Sasano.

Just like Hachiko (another wonderful doggie movie that shows complete loyalty of a dog to its keeper), this movie also shows us about friendship between Socks (a cute orphan dog) and Akari (its person).

The 10 promises refers to 10 rules Akari should obey as she decides to keep Socks, a cute puppy she finds at backyard, as her pet. The rules are (as if the dog said this):

1. Listen patiently to what I have to say.
2. Trust me; I'm always on your side.
3. Play with me a lot.
4. Don't forget that I have feelings, too.
5. Let's never fight, someday I'll win.
6. If I don't obey you, I have a good reason.
7. You have school, and friends, but as for me, I only have you.
8. Stay my best friend, even when I'm old.
9. I'll live for about 10 years, let's make every moment count in ten years.
10. Never forget our time together, so keep in your mind. When my time comes, please be by my side.

The point of those rules is a pact of understanding from both parties that build on trust. It reminds us to understand that it takes a lost of responsibility to take care of a pet, especially when one's priorities in life tend to change as one grows up within the other one’s lifespan (good watching for young kids as it’s a G-rated movie).

Another point I got from this movie is that sometimes people forget about promises they have made. Somes will try to fix it as they remember and things turns better. But some others find it’s too late to fix anything, and the only thing they can do is just living in that feeling of guilt.

 

Synopsis

Told over 10 years, the film stars Mayuko Fukuda and Lena Tanaka as the character of Akari, a young girl who seem to suffer from setback after setback ranging from family to relationship issues, despite her sunshine cheery demeanour. And the best parts in the movie pertain to the carefully crafted story about family, about being there for your loved ones, and making precious moments count. And with the 10 promises, we will journey with Akari to see if she can commit to the pact successfully, or not.

 

But it's not just a story about a girl and her dog, and there's where this movie shines in being different from the usual run off the mill stories. There's a small sub plot involving Akari's golden retriever Socks in its ability to become a therapy dog, both for herself, and good friend Hoshi (Ryo Kase). And it chief strength was in how it weaved a very nice, touching story about family, of being there every moment that you can, and making such moment matter. Just like how Akari's father Saito (Etushi Toyokawa, in a role that perhaps many can identify with) places work in a higher priority than family in order to put bread on the table, but realizes that work just isn't everything as time will just pass you by. And it served as an interesting parallel when Akari loathes her father's non-presence, but slowly we see her succumbing to these same attitudes as well, much to the disappointment of, well, everyone else.

Despite a romantic angle being ploughed into the movie at its midpoint on, its family one still stood its ground and delivered the melodramatic payload when it mattered, to tug at your heartstrings during the inevitable finale. And while listening to the Japanese cast bravely sing their way through Time After Time, it fit the movie nicely with the message it wanted to bring across, perhaps this version of the song will sooth calm nerves.

So, what do you think about this movie? 

Is it your thing? ^_^