One problem that consistently crops up with films about dogs is that film-makers are often so preoccupied with making their particular hound outstanding or extraordinary that they fail to simply portray the animal as it really is. By doing this, countless films lose sight of what makes these animals important to us; honest depictions of dog ownership are few and far between. Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog sits comfortably on the side of sentimentality without straying into the sanguine. This Japanese gem chronicles the life of a guide dog, Quill, from his tumultuous youth, being constantly between homes and in training, to his years as a working dog, before finally following him to his deathbed. The film never fails to capture the subtle emotive discourse that takes place between the owner and his pet, and the positive impact that Quill has on his vulnerable owner, Mitsuru Watanabe, is truly touching. Director, Yoichi Sai, answers any questions audiences might have about guide dogs, broadening our understanding of both Watanabe and Quill in the process. Even in Quill's last moments, Sai avoids any attempt to wean emotion out of the scene beyond what is inherently there. There is no manipulation of the dog; all we get is a heartfelt performance from the humans that surround him. It's a poignant reminder of how much their short lives affects ours that hits home purely because we believe in Quill the dog, rather than Quill the CGI-enhanced wunderhund.
