cinehunch
A FILM WORTH A CLOSER LOOKTHE FEATURE PRESENTATION
IF THIS ONE STAYED WITH YOU
Keep the feeling.
SIMILAR PICKS / A PERSONAL CONNECTION
01
Why this pick
Like Mari, Quill finds its power in a dog becoming inseparable from a family’s everyday life, with a gentle Japanese sensibility and an emotionally patient focus on loyalty and care.
02
Why this pick
A warm, sincerely told family drama built around a dog’s devotion. Its unhurried approach and emphasis on attachment, separation, and steadfast love suit the tearful warmth of Mari’s story.
03
Why this pick
This Japanese telling of Hachikō’s story shares Mari’s intimate rural-family feeling and deep respect for the quiet, transformative bond between people and a devoted dog.
04
Why this pick
Its affectionate road journey keeps the animal-human relationship at the center, balancing gentle humor, scenic Japanese settings, and a gradually deepening emotional pull.
05
Why this pick
A quietly devastating Japanese dog drama with the same belief that an animal companion can bring dignity and emotional rescue to ordinary people facing hardship.
Finding the atmosphere, tension and little details that made this one stay with you.
Our curator needs a little longer. Please come back shortly.
No confident matches yet. Try our personal film finder.
01 / THE STORY
On the way back home, Ryota and his sister Aya met an abandoned Shiba Inu. At first reluctant to adopt it because their father hates dogs, they eventually brought it home secretly because the dog kept on following them home. In order to officially keep the dog at home, Aya told her grandfather that she wanted that dog for her birthday present. Since he promised to give her anything she wants for her birthday, he reluctantly agreed. This initially led to a quarrel between him and his son. Meanwhile, his son, is considering moving to Nagaoka, Niigata from Yamakoshi, their village, reduce the time needed for his father to reach the hospital and for the children to live near their school, despite opposition from his father. Aya subsequently names the dog Mari, and it becomes a part of the family.
Showing saved details. Some information may be out of date.
02 / FACES IN THE FRAME
Ryota Ishikawa
