Dog Star (2002)

Directed by Takahisa Zeze

Starring Etsushi Toyokawa, Haruka Igawa

Only in Japan could they come up with a romantic comedy drama with a plot like this. Shiro is a Seeing Eye dog, his last owner is dead and having trouble getting into heaven; in order to get in he has to do a good deed and decides to grant Shiro a wish for all his years of good service.

Shiros wish is to take human form and visit his first owner, a young girl with whom he spent his formative years and from where he had his happiest memories. The wish is granted and he eventually finds the girl (by sniffing her out) who is now a grown woman and teaching at a school. 

Of course the obvious happens, she falls for him despite his somewhat odd behavior and he slowly falls for her but knows because he is in all actuality still a dog, that they can never be together as lovers.

Thats the basics, any more information would contain spoilers so Ill just finish by saying its a quirky romantic drama which thankfully just scrapes through the obvious traps it could have so easily fallen into. 

Definitely not essential cinema but an easily accessable slice of the bizarre side of Japans film industry.

Cheers Trev.

BBFC not rated, suitable certainly for 12 and above. 

Region 3 ntsc DVD available from several retailers.