An enchanting Japanese production, "Quill" is at once a documentary and a dramatized account which chronicles the daily life of a guide dog and its integral role in society.
From birth, it's obvious that Quill, appropriately named because of the distinctive dark marking on its otherwise light-colored coat, is more special than the rest of its litter. An observation which prompts its owners to enroll Quill into a seeing-eye dog program.
And so, we see Quill develop from a curious, playful puppy to a responsible and reliable aid.
Quill must also adapt to many transitions and new beginnings as he transfers from its original owners, to the training kennel, and finally, to the family he is assigned to.
From there, Quill is paired with a cranky, impatient and stubborn blind man. At first, the man refuses the offer of any help as he wants to maintain his sense of independence. Overtime, they learn to get used to one another, as Quill begins to work with the man, and soon they find each other overcoming many obstacles and experiencing much triumphs together.
Later, Quill and the man begin to rely on one another, and form a bond which succeeds in dissolving the man's cold disposition.
Eventually, both illness and advanced maturity take their toll on both of them, which sadly and inevitably results in the end of their journey together.
"Quill" is obviously set apart from the standard "Disney" movies about the friendships born between a human being and his dog. Also, it does not feature stage animals whose only purpose is to act cute and do tricks for the camera. Children will also be able to benefit from this film in a different way as it teaches many valuable lessons about the cycle of life, and raises awareness towards the visually impaired, provoking both subtle humor and sadness in the process.
From birth, it's obvious that Quill, appropriately named because of the distinctive dark marking on its otherwise light-colored coat, is more special than the rest of its litter. An observation which prompts its owners to enroll Quill into a seeing-eye dog program.
And so, we see Quill develop from a curious, playful puppy to a responsible and reliable aid.
Quill must also adapt to many transitions and new beginnings as he transfers from its original owners, to the training kennel, and finally, to the family he is assigned to.
From there, Quill is paired with a cranky, impatient and stubborn blind man. At first, the man refuses the offer of any help as he wants to maintain his sense of independence. Overtime, they learn to get used to one another, as Quill begins to work with the man, and soon they find each other overcoming many obstacles and experiencing much triumphs together.
Later, Quill and the man begin to rely on one another, and form a bond which succeeds in dissolving the man's cold disposition.
Eventually, both illness and advanced maturity take their toll on both of them, which sadly and inevitably results in the end of their journey together.
"Quill" is obviously set apart from the standard "Disney" movies about the friendships born between a human being and his dog. Also, it does not feature stage animals whose only purpose is to act cute and do tricks for the camera. Children will also be able to benefit from this film in a different way as it teaches many valuable lessons about the cycle of life, and raises awareness towards the visually impaired, provoking both subtle humor and sadness in the process.