MUSIC BOX FILMS HOME ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES

Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog

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h3 style=”text-align: center;”>THE IRRESISTIBLE TALE BASED ON A TRUE STORY OF A BEAUTIFUL LABRADOR RETRIEVER WHOSE COMPASSION AND DEVOTION TRANSFORM HIM INTO A DEDICATED GUIDE DOG FOR THE BLIND

Available on DVD & Digital Download

July 10, 2012

“Undeniably powerful” — Andy Webster, THE NEW YORK TIMES

“What sets this film above so many movies about animals is that it’s about a dog who is realistic in every aspect.” – Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN TIMES

“It’s a wonderful film. I can’t recommend it highly enough.” – Stephen Whitty, NEWARK STAR LEDGER

Chicago, IL (May 24, 2012) - Quill may initially appear to be an average, ordinary Golden Labrador Retriever, but he’s much, much more. Identified for his intelligence, compassion and devotion when he’s just a puppy-an absolutely adorable puppy!-Quill is selected to enter a program that trains seeing-eye guide dogs for the blind. The story of the curious canine’s rigorous training, his eventual assignment to an unhappy, newly blind master and the captivatingly honest realities of the life of a seeing-eye dog are the subjects of the wonderful drama QUILL: THE LIFE OF A GUIDE DOG, coming to DVD from Music Box Films Home Entertainment in July.

Directed by legendary Japanese filmmaker Yoichi Sai and based on a true story, QUILL: THE LIFE OF A GUIDE DOG traces the long life and remarkable experiences of the wonderful seeing-eye dog Quill, so-named because of the feather-shaped birthmark on his side. The film carefully follows Quill from his litter to his selection as a guide dog shortly after his first birthday through his training by Satoru Tawada (Kippei Shiina). It then follows Quill’s assignment to the lonely and ill-tempered Mitsuru Watanabe (Kaoru Kobayashi) and how the dog’s great patience, gentleness and skill eventually win over Watanabe, bringing them together to become inseparable friends.

QUILL: THE LIFE OF A GUIDE DOG will be released on DVD and Digital Download for the first time in the U.S. by Music Box Films Home Entertainment on July 10, 2012 (prebook June 5, 2012) following its well-received Stateside theatrical release in the nation’s top markets in May, 2012.

An unforgettable and irresistible story about the difference one lovable lab can make in the lives of many, QUILL: THE LIFE OF A GUIDE DOG is a film that once again proclaims the existence of a natural, emotional and very powerful bond that exists between humans and dogs.

More information on QUILL: THE LIFE OF A GUIDE DOG can be found on the film’s website, http://www.musicboxfilms.com/quill.

Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog – Synopsis:

Quill, a Golden Labrador Retriever puppy so named because of the feather-shaped birthmark on his side, is sent to live with a couple, Isamu (Teruyuki Kagawa) and Mitsuko (Shinobu Terajima), who work as volunteers for the training of seeing eye guide dogs. Quill is subsequently taken to a professional guide dog school led by the friendly yet firm trainer Satoru Tawada (Kippei Shiina). Although Quill is a little slower than the other dogs at the school, he does exhibit a peerless level of devotion and patience for his trainers. Tawada decides that Quill would be the ideal guide dog for Mitsuru Watanabe (Kaoru Kobayashi), a lonely and ill-tempered elderly man who “would rather sleep than be dragged around by a dog.” Letting his natural instincts guide him, Quill gradually helps his new master to open up and appreciate life. With time, Wanatabe learns not only to trust and enjoy the presence of other humans, but the dedicated animal at his side who guides him, as well.

About Music Box Films:

Founded in 2007, Music Box Films has quickly established itself as one of the leading distributors of non-English language feature films in the US in theaters, on DVD and Blu-ray, and via Video-on-Demand. Music Box’s release of Guillaume Canet’s Tell No One was the most popular foreign-language film of 2008. In 2010, the film adaptations of Stieg Larsson’s trilogy of international mega-sellers dominated the foreign-language film market: the first in the series, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, was one of the most popular international releases of the decade with over $10 million in US box office. Music Box Films is independently owned and operated by the Southport Music Box Corporation which also owns and operates The Music Box Theatre, Chicago’s premiere venue for independent and foreign films.

Quill: The Life of a Guide Dog
Music Box Films Home Entertainment
STREET DATE: July 10, 2012
Pre-book Date: June 5, 2012
SRP: DVD $29.95
Cast: Kaoru Kobayashi, Kippei Shiina, Teruyuki Kagawa
Director: Yoichi Sai
Running Time: 100 min.
Format: 1.85:1 widescreen
Sound Format: Dolby Digital
Rating: NR
Country: Japan
Language: Japanese with English subtitles