Little Q film review: Simon Yam shares the limelight in guide dog drama based on Japanese hit

Simon Yam and his co-star in a street scene from Little Q (category IIA; Cantonese), directed by Law Wing-cheong. Him Law and Gigi Leung co-star.

3/5 stars

The life of a guide dog forms the main narrative of Little Q, but animal-lovers who see it should thank Simon Yam Tat-wah for giving such a dignified performance as the animal’s conflicted master for much of its lifespan. With a lesser actor in the lead, this well-intentioned, if somewhat laboured, drama could easily have been sloppily sentimental.

The film is based on the premise of Ryohei Akimoto and Kengo Ishiguro’s novel The Life of Quill, the Seeing-Eye Dog, which was adapted into a hit Japanese film, Quill, in 2004. The Hong Kong version, directed by Law Wing-cheong (Punished), shies away from the material’s tear-jerking potential, and instead offers a warm and gentle look at how humans and their canine friends treasure each others’ company.

It is the story of Little Q, a yellow Labrador retriever raised since it was a puppy by a foster family: Mr and Mrs Chan (Roger Kwok Chun-on, Charlie Young Choi-nei) and their young daughter Tsz-kiu ( Meow ’s Jessica Liu Chutian as a kid, Angela Yuen Lai-lam as a teenager). After that Little Q is trained by Simon (Him Law Chung-him), from the Hong Kong Guide Dogs Association, to become an ally for the blind.

Things look bleak when Little Q is paired with Lee Po-ting (Yam), a renowned pastry chef who is losing his eyesight and takes his frustration out on those around him, including his caring sister (Gigi Leung Wing-kei). Lee’s treatment of his guide dog borders on cruel at first.

When Little Q saves him from a suicide attempt, however, the hopeless Lee begins to view his loyal companion in a new light. The bond between man and dog grows tighter still after a dangerous encounter in Guangzhou, China.

From left: Simon Yam, Gigi Leung and Angela Yuen in a still from Little Q.

Lee, assisted by Little Q, finds a renewed sense of purpose, but faces having to part with his guide dog for good when a severe health scare requires surgery – and an extended stay – in the United States.

Will they have a chance to grow together into old age? Does it matter? Rather than seeking to create dramatic tension, Little Q is at its most interesting when showing how a guide dog is trained to keep its discipline and help its master. That the blind man who goes from grouchy recluse to loving dog owner is played by a veteran as sensitive as Yam only adds to the pleasure of the film.

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