Quill (film)

Quill , Kuru? is a 2004 Japanese film about a guide dog, first released in Japan onMarch 2004 and on DVD onSeptember 2004. It was also shown at the 2004 Toronto International Film Festival in Canada onSeptember 2004.

One day in Tokyo, a yellow Labrador Retriever puppy is born among a litter of five. This puppy is unique, wherein he has a birdshaped mark on his left side. Following a simple communication test, he is selected to become a guide dog hence his first parting. After being picked up by dog trainer Satoru Tawada, the puppy is flown to Kyoto to live with Isamu and Mitsuko Nii a married couple who are puppy walkers, people who raise guide dogs for a year. There, the couple name him Quill, after discovering the word in an EnglishJapanese dictionary. As soon as Quill reaches the age of one, he is handed back to Tawada to undergo guide dog training this becomes his second parting. At first, Quill has difficulty learning the basic skills, but one day, while tending to another dog, Tawada notices that Quill is excellent in waiting an important trait in a guide dog.During training, Quill is introduced to Mitsuru Watanabe, a blind journalist who has relied on a white cane since losing his eyesight. Watanabe, at first, is skeptical about using a guide dog, but after walking with Quill for the first time, he realizes that he can travel faster and safer with the dog. Watanabe then undergoes training to work with Quill most of the training involves learning Englishlanguage commands, so as to not confuse Quill when other people around him are talking in Japanese. He fails the final examination after not listening to Quills warnings on obstacles, but they begin to work more cohesively for Watanabe to obtain his guide dog owner license. Quill moves in with Watanabes family and works with his master for two years. Then one day, Watanabe is confined to the hospital when his diabetes takes its turn for the worse, resulting in kidney failure. Quill is returned to the training center, where he works as a demonstration dog for two years before finally reuniting with Watanabe. Their walk, however, is their final one, as Watanabe dies a few days later. Quills third parting occurs after visit

Source: Wikipedia