Quill (2004)

• Release Date: 05/18/2012
• Rating: Not Yet Rated
• Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins
• Genre:
• Director: Yoichi Sai
• Cast: Kaoru Kobayashi, Kippei Shiina, Teruyuki Kagawa, Keiko Toda

Titular pup is born in a litter of five, then chosen for guide dog training. Shuttled off to live with a childless couple until his first birthday, Quill impresses the chief trainer with his diligence and concentration. Unfortunately for Quill, he's assigned to Mr. Watanabe, a professional advocate for the disabled who at first resists the idea of being canine-led. He's a gruff, slow-warming master toward his wife and children, too.The National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, one of the Industry's high-profile Oscar indicators, has announced its top film picks this year, with the Marquis de Sade tale "Quills" nabbing the best film nod and helmer Steven Soderbergh earning the title of best director for films "Erin Brockovich" and the upcoming "Traffic" with newlyweds Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The best actress nod went to "Brockovich" star Julia Roberts, and "Before Night Falls'" Javier Bardem, who played exile Cuban writer Reinaldo Arenas, picked up the best actor award.

As to the supporting role categories, Joaquin Phoenix was named best supporting male for his work in "The Yards," "Gladiator" and "Quills," and Lupe Ontiveros scored the best supporting female nod for the indie film "Chuck and Buck." This gentle drama from acclaimed Japanese director Yoichi Sai traces the long life and manifold experiences of a seeing-eye dog. The central character is a Labrador retriever, christened Quill because of the feather-shaped birthmark on his side. Though this canine ostensibly lacks the behavioral qualities possessed by most seeing eye-dogs, he does exhibit a peerless level of devotion that makes him perfect for the task - particularly when he's assigned to work with an embittered, deeply hurt elderly man named Mitsuru Watanabe (Kaoru Kobayashi) and gradually teaches this new master to open up and appreciate life. Director Sai gained critical kudos for this film because of its simplistic, elegant approach and its steadfast resistance to excessive sentimentality and pathos.

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