Note: I’ve tried not to include movies with animal cruelty as the main subject (like Amores Perros) and animated flicks (like Babe, Bambi etc.) The movies I picked for this list, are inspiring and heartwarming, a genuine pleasure of an animal lover’s heart.
1. Hachikô monogatari (1987)
1. Hachikô monogatari (1987)
This Japanese film is the tragic and true story of Hachiko, a renowned Akita dog, whose bronze statue stands watch over Shibuya Station in Tokyo, in present days. He was born in Akita prefecture and brought to Tokyo by Professor Ueno, when he was a small puppy. During his master’s life, Hachi made a habit to say goodbye to him in the morning when the Professor would go to the University and wait for his return at the nearby Shibuya Station. Here comes the heartbreaking part. After Professor Ueno dies, Hachi keeps waiting for him in front of Shibuya, every single day, until his death. The seasons change around him, the passengers come and go, but Hachi, with his eyes fixed to the spot from where the Professor usually came, stands still and waits.
It’s hard no cry during this film. I feel the tears rising while I’m writing this. The story about the “faithful dog” (the nickname he received from the people working near the station) is truly a tearjerker.
2. Eight Below (2006)
It’s hard no cry during this film. I feel the tears rising while I’m writing this. The story about the “faithful dog” (the nickname he received from the people working near the station) is truly a tearjerker.
2. Eight Below (2006)
Steven Spielberg’s movie makes a strong case about the bond between humans and animals. In early 1900, a farmer buys a stallion and his teenage son, Albert, starts training him and names him Joey. They become inseparable. The World War I starts, and after a heavy downpour destroys the year’s harvest, the father sells the horse to British cavalry, in order to pay rent. From this point on, Joey finds his way through British and German camps, suffers along his fellow soldiers and fights his way back to Albert.
This is a gut wrenching story, like all the other war stories although by showing a horse going through the pains of our human violence and wars, makes our suffering worse.
5. Life of Pi (2012)
This is a gut wrenching story, like all the other war stories although by showing a horse going through the pains of our human violence and wars, makes our suffering worse.
5. Life of Pi (2012)
A guide (played by the late Paul Walker) for an Antarctica research base, is forced to leave his dogs behind during a heavy snowstorm. After five months, guilt ridden, he manages to get funding for a rescue mission, and goes back after them. The movie also shows what happens to the dogs during those five months and again, like Hachi’s story, it’s heartbreaking. They break from the chains and scavenge for food, trying to keep themselves alive. I’m not going to spoil the movie for the ones who haven’t seen it but I’m going to give you a little warning beforehand. Keep a box of tissues ready because you’re going to need them.
3. Marley & Me (2008)
3. Marley & Me (2008)
Another true story manages its way in to the list, although this time, disguised as a comedy. Newlyweds Jenny and John Grogan (played by Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson) move to South Florida and adopt a Labrador retriever puppy, in order to find out if they are ready to have a family. Marley (named after Bob Marley) proves to be, from the start, not the ideal dog. He can’t be trained (not even by professional dog trainers), he destroys the house during lightening storms and he eats like he’s twice his size. Even if he’s not the ideal pet, the Grogans keep him and love him. When they finally have their own children, Marley is the one keeping watch over them.
After I’ve seen the movie, I’ve searched for the book and I ended up loving both of them. Too many people abandon their pets when they turn to be different from what the owners have expected. The Grogans did not give up on Marley and Marley never gave up on them. He made their life colorful and wild.
4. War Horse (2011)
After I’ve seen the movie, I’ve searched for the book and I ended up loving both of them. Too many people abandon their pets when they turn to be different from what the owners have expected. The Grogans did not give up on Marley and Marley never gave up on them. He made their life colorful and wild.
4. War Horse (2011)
The film opens with Pi Patel receiving a visit from a novelist and then he starts telling him his life story. He tells him about his childhood, his early interest in different religions, his family, the animals in his family zoo, and he tells him about Richard Parker, a fearsome Bengal tiger. He recalls when he was 16, his father decided to move the entire household to Canada. The ship was wrecked during a storm and Pi found himself on a lifeboat, castaway with Richard Parker, his only companion, with whom later on forms an unexpected connection.
I do want to talk more about Richard Parker and his friendship with Pi but I’m aware that doing so, will ruin the movie for the ones who haven’t seen it yet. What I’m going to say is that this picture is one of a kind, imaginative, beautifully directed and filmed. An incredible experience to witness.
6. Big Miracle (2012)
I do want to talk more about Richard Parker and his friendship with Pi but I’m aware that doing so, will ruin the movie for the ones who haven’t seen it yet. What I’m going to say is that this picture is one of a kind, imaginative, beautifully directed and filmed. An incredible experience to witness.
6. Big Miracle (2012)
After felines, whales are my favorite mammals. They are truly majestic creatures. When I heard about this film, based on a real life event, nothing could keep me away from seeing it.
In the late 80’s, a family of three gray whales gets trapped in the Alaskan ice, and a Greenpeace volunteer and a small town news reporter, rallies the entire community to save them. Soon enough, the entire world is covering the whales’s story. Politicians, the coast guard and even the enemy (Russians-for the Americans) get involved in aiding the powerless mammals.
Kindness is the most powerful tool against our many differences as people, countries and beliefs and that’s why this movie is a must see.
7. Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
In the late 80’s, a family of three gray whales gets trapped in the Alaskan ice, and a Greenpeace volunteer and a small town news reporter, rallies the entire community to save them. Soon enough, the entire world is covering the whales’s story. Politicians, the coast guard and even the enemy (Russians-for the Americans) get involved in aiding the powerless mammals.
Kindness is the most powerful tool against our many differences as people, countries and beliefs and that’s why this movie is a must see.
7. Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
This movie is based on the true story of the naturalist Dian Fossey and her work in Congo and Rwanda, with Mountain Gorillas. This extraordinary woman who went in Africa to study the silverback gorilla and fought for their rights against poachers, quite possibly saved these amazing creatures from extinction. Filled with heartbreaking, inspiring and thought provoking scenes, Gorillas in the Mist was nominated for five Academy Awards with Sigourney Weaver playing the main role.
Reading the reviews, I realized that not everyone loves Dian Fossey because of her particular personality and character but everyone agrees with her actions. I most certainly am.
Reading the reviews, I realized that not everyone loves Dian Fossey because of her particular personality and character but everyone agrees with her actions. I most certainly am.