QUILL"Quill. When I walk with you, I realize what it is to be alive."
- based on a true story -
Quill -a Labrador Retriever-'s life as a "dog" drastically changes when he leaves his mother's side in order to become a "seeing-eye dog". He is taken in by "foster parents" known as puppy-walkers, where he is basked in their love fully and spent his puppy days running around innocently and full of vigor. When he reaches his first birthday, he leaves his foster parents and eventually enters a training center. Little did he know that he would later meet the man who would become his owner ( = partner). The gentle Quill would be teamed up with this man, who first refuses to take a seeing-eye dog. An incident occurs which cause the seemingly completely incompatible man and dog to come to rely on each other, and begin to walk together. This was their first step in becoming "life partners". When he walked with Quill, his partner felt the wind. He could see the sky through Quill. The bond between Quill and his partner, who rediscovers the joy of life, grew deeper with each passing day...Until, one day, they face a sudden and sorrowful parting....
Quill experiences many encounters and farewells in his daily life as a seeing-eye dog. The happier the encounter, the more emotional the departure. In the face of inescapable fate, a person can get hurt, and sometimes shut one's heart. Quill tenderly extends the gift of his unconditional love and trust to the people he met. Quill was born with a curious mark on his side that resembles a bird spreading its wings. Perhaps this was the symbol of the happiness of his user.
Directed by Yoichi Sai, whose film "ALL UNDER THE MOON" (Tsuki wa dotchi ni dete iru), won 53 awards, including the Kinema Junpo awards (the most prestigious film award in Japan) for Best Picture and Best Director. His most recent film "DOING TIME" (Keimusho no naka) was also highly praised, receiving number of awards including Best Director Award.Sai's incisive portrayal of characters has earned him a reputation as a prodigal film director. The true story of Quill, comes to life on screen with Sai's rich representation and his way of expression for the meaning of life.
TO DANCE WITH THE WHITE DOGWhen love is true, miracles do happen.
What if the one who was smiling yesterday suddenly leaves you forever? Your wish to see them again sinks in and the loved one comes back before you in another appearance. In the morning breeze that ruffles curtains in the windows. Or in a butterfly that flutters past you. Or ....
The story starts as a white dog suddenly comes into the life of an aged man who recently lost his wife. Life with the dog gradually helps to heal the heart of the old man. It appears the dog may actually be a reincarnation of his wife. In order to fulfill her last wishes, the man takes the dog with him on a pilgrimage to the grave of his son. Is the white dog an illusion or is it really his wife coming back to him? The answer is truly given as the end credits roll.
Tatsuya Nakadai ("Kagemusha"), in one of his most moving performances, shows us how to love and how to live. The director is Takashi Tsukinoki, surprisingly a debut, but already a well-known director inside the Japanese film industry for his works as chief assistant director under some of Japan's leading directors such as Shohei Imamura, Kihachi Okamoto and Takeshi Kitano.
