STAR WATCHING DOG DVD (Hoshi mamoru inu) (2011)

SYNOPSIS: An abandoned car is discovered near a camping ground and inside it is the body of an identified middle-aged man and a dog who seems to have died months later. This is the story of the life of the loving and faithful dog and his owner told from the dog's point of view. City hall employee Kyousuke Okutsu is assigned to uncover the man's identity for a proper funeral. As he investigates the situation, he remembers his late family and his own dog's unfailing loyalty. 
 
MOVIE REVIEW:

Yes, it’s another dog-related drama from Japan and no despite the misleading title; it doesn’t have a dog that knows astrology. End of the day, the movie is nothing out of the box but a simple heartfelt drama aimed to tug at your heartstrings.

In “Star Watching Dog”, a city hall employee Kyousuke Okutsu (Tetsuji Tamayama from Norwegian Wood) decides to embark on a road trip to unravel the mysterious death of an old man and his dog on a deserted track of a campground. With only three receipts from the deceased as clues, Okutsu and his uninvited companion, a teenage runaway named Yuki who insists on hopping into his classic beetle went on an unexpected journey of discovering a man and his canine named “Happy” who touches the lives of many.

The movie plods thoughtfully and the narration shifts in and out of flashbacks flawlessly. This is a movie that practically entertains without any climax to speak of. The skillful cinematography, which captures the picturesque landscapes and the transition of one season to another, is an added bonus. Coming back to the tale of the old man, bits and pieces of him is revealed through Okutsu’s conversations with the few people he last contact with notably a hot-headed convenience store owner, a henpecked owner of an used store and lastly a café owner. The initial projection of a homeless man meeting a lonely death out in the open is gradually given a facelift all should we say a true fuller picture of what actually drive him to a state of disparity. A man who once has it all is shattered by the unexpected economical status of the country.

The last act in which we see the tragic end of both owner and his faithful friend will definitely caused some discomfort misty eyes. Even though “Star Watching Dog” is sold as a dog show, I applaud the filmmaker here for at least making a worthy effort in showcasing the touching relationship between the two parties and also the humane side of the owner though the finale act is where the dam starts to break apart and it’s “Happy” who stole the show.

With a veteran familiar face liked Toshiyuki Nishida (The Ramen Girl) anchoring the movie as the old man and together with cameos from Shido Nakamura (Red Cliff), ex-matinée idol Tomokazu Miura (Outrage) and Yoichi Nukumizu (Ghost), “Star Watching Dog” passes off as a much more interesting dog drama in recent times if you don’t mind the underdevelopment of Okutsu and Yuki.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

NIL. 

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The visual transfer is stunning while the dialogue and music pieces come across clearly and without missing a beat.

MOVIE RATING:

DVD RATING :

Review by Linus Tee