I don't give many 10s. So few are deserved. But here, we have a film of real importance. A film which grabs the viewer and never lets go. The audience so identifies with each dog, that as the dogs fight for survival, alone, during a fierce Arctic winter, the story of each one's bravery against impossible odds is both uplifting and saddening. This is a consequence of the expert way the animals were handled in filming, fine acting (esp. Ken Takakura, Japan's biggest box office star for decades), an expertly written story, beautiful cinematography, evocative music (Vangelis) and spot-on direction. This was, to me, one of the few films I've seen which I would call "perfect" in every way. WIthout fault.
The fact that this was the true story of the ill-fated 1958 Japanese Arctic expedition where all but two dogs survived the winter, enables the total suspension of disbelief in the viewer. You know this really happened. And you cheer when you find out that two dogs, Taro and Jiro, who subsequently became national heroes in Japan, survived their almost preordained fate. This was one of the highest grossing movies ever in Japan, which is a testament to how we all, as human beings, feel about the plight of these dogs and, no less, how we feel about our companion animals in general. I recommend this film HIGHLY.
The fact that this was the true story of the ill-fated 1958 Japanese Arctic expedition where all but two dogs survived the winter, enables the total suspension of disbelief in the viewer. You know this really happened. And you cheer when you find out that two dogs, Taro and Jiro, who subsequently became national heroes in Japan, survived their almost preordained fate. This was one of the highest grossing movies ever in Japan, which is a testament to how we all, as human beings, feel about the plight of these dogs and, no less, how we feel about our companion animals in general. I recommend this film HIGHLY.