The fact that Quill had been a big hit in Japan when it was released in 2005 was not the main reason Ed Arentz, managing director of Music Box Films, was attracted to the opportunity for his company to distribute the film in the United States. Part of the company’s programming strategy to obtain “art-house” films for kids, Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog streets July 10 on DVD.

Several of our youth film critics reviewed Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog and, much to their surprise, loved it! Hunter Willow (age 11) claims, "I was not actually looking forward to watching Quill .. but as the movie progressed I liked it more and more." Camille (age 10) commented, "I liked this movie because it really got me interested in training dogs for people with disabilities." Brianna (age 12) adds, "Wow, this is a very touching and emotional film cast with one of my favorite animals." 

Here are the reviews by our KIDS FIRST! Film Critics: 

Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog
by Brianna Hope Beaton
(video review here)

Wow, this is a very touching and emotional film cast with one of my favorite animals. 

First off, I really love this film for a couple of reasons.  One being of Quill’s extreme cuteness and how he catches everyone’s attention every time he walks into the scene.  Everyone feeds off of his reactions and the rest of the cast act pretty well themselves.  They portray exactly what they are feeling inside.  It is hard to tell they are just playing their role.   Second, I feel the teamwork shown in this film just blows me away as they are sharing a bond of trust and love.  One of my favorite parts is the beginning when Quill is huddling up against his siblings.  They are so cute.

Quill, a Labrador, is a guide dog in training.  He is experiencing how hard it is to stop at a street curb or corner and is having other obstacles as well.  For Quill to come and stop when asked to do so, not to take a bathroom break even when he has to and most of all be loyal to his master no matter what is an awful lot to ask of a him.  When Quill grows up to an adult dog, he is given over to his new master, Mitsuru Watanabe (Kaoru Kobayshi) a lonely middle aged man, who isn’t fond of being guided around by a dog.   They both go on the adventure of trust and teamwork as Mitsuru’s daughter, Mitsuko Nii (Shinobu Terajima) narrates.

Yoichi Sai directs this outstanding film.  It is in Japanese and has sub titles in English, so you really have to pay close attention to the screen.  Don’t even pay attention to the Japanese, unless you speak & know Japanese.

I recommend this film for ages 6 to 12 because it is so adorable, funny, and sweet.  Older ages can definitely watch this film as they will enjoy it and understand what is happening.   Puppy and dog lovers, this is your film.

I without a shadow of a doubt give this film 5 out of 5 stars because it has comedy, emotion, drama, crises and of course cute puppies.

Quill is a great film and I hope you love it as much as you can.  Prepare to cry and laugh out loud.  It lands in America on the 18th of May so please go and see this amazing Japanese foreign film. No matter where you are at in the world, a dog is truly a man’s best friend.

Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog
by Camille Bajema
(video review here)

I like this movie because it really got me interested in training dogs for people with disabilities.  This film is an adaptation of the novel “The Life of Quill, the Seeing-Eye Dog” by Ryohei Akimoto and Kengo Ishiguro, based on a true story.

Quill is an adorable Labrador Retriever puppy, who goes to live with a kind couple who raise guide dogs, Mitsuko and Isamu Nii, played by Shinobu Terajima and Teruyuki Kagawa. Quill lives with them for a year and is then taken to a training school where he is trained by a strict man, Satoru Tawada. 

Quill is a bit slower than some of the other dogs during training, but he improves quickly and is sent to work with a very stubborn blind man, Mitsuru Watanabe, played by Kaoru Kobayashi. Their friendship grows and Quill never leaves Mr. Watanabe’s side, until he falls gravely ill.

My favorite characters in this film were Mitsuko and Isamu Nii, the couple who raises Quill as a puppy.  I liked them because they were so nice, loving, and caring to Quill and while watching that part of the film, I felt very touched. 

This film was directed by Yôichi Sai and written by Soichi Maruyama and Yoshihiro Nakamura.  Yoshihiro Nakamura also wrote “Pokemon: Power of One.”  The soundtrack was composed and recorded by the Kuricorder Quartet.

I recommend this film to kids ten and up because there are subtitles and you have to be able to read very well.  There is also some bad language, and there are some very emotional scenes that would be more suitable for older children. 

Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog
by Hunter Willow Jones
(video review here)

I LOVE this movie!  It is heartwarming and the dogs are so adorable.

I was not actually looking forward to watching Quill; I mean the title didn’t seem very interesting.   Also, it is a Japanese film with English subtitles, which didn’t excite me.  But as the movie progressed I like it more and more.

Quill is the story of one special guide dog; a yellow Labrador named Quill because of a unique brown spot on his side.  Shown as a docudrama, Quill goes from a small puppy with its mother being picked to be a guide dog because of his calm nature and sent to live with a foster family that loves and cares for him until he is a year old and then he is off to school where he learns to be the eyes for a blind person.   Though Quill does not seem to learn as quickly as the other dogs, Satoru Tawada (KippeiShiina), Quill’s trainer, is patient and sees the potential in him.  Quill is teamed up with Mr. Watanabe (Kaoru Kobayashi), who is not a dog lover and does not like being blind.  Though the pair has a rocky start, Mr. Watanabe grows to trust and respect Quill.  The ending is inspiring despite it being sad.  

Technically, Quill was average with good sound and cinematography.  The dogs in Quill are simply amazing.  They are so well trained.  I thought they were the best actors in the film. The subtitles were a little distracting, I didn’t like that I couldn’t understand what was being said and had to read it, but as I got into the movie that became easier.   I liked seeing what life was like in Japan and that there are differences from my town like the way the houses look, but there are more things that are same like how we love our pets.

When my parents and I were done watching Quill we talked a lot about the movie from what it is like to be blind to how dogs are trained to be guide dogs to the story and characters.  Quill made us smile, laugh and cry, but it also made us think.

Quill was released in Japan in 2004, but has just been released in American this summer.

Quill is a wonderful movie for any age, but it is better for kids who know how to read.  Kids and adults both will enjoy it.  I give Quill five stars!

Quill: The Lilfe of a Guide Dog
by Casey Chandler

(video review here)