The most unnerving thing about Plan 75, the debut feature from Japanese filmmaker Chie Hayakawa, is that the dystopian future it presents doesnt seem futuristic at all. This is as true for the films mise en scne as it is for its premise.
Theres no comfort to be taken, for instance, in city-states that have been reimagined as gleaming high-tech playlands or blighted urban hell-scapes. We are far removed from either Logans Run or Soylent Green, iconic 1970s movies that Plan 75 brings to mind. What the picture does share with these two schlock masterpieces is summed up in the title: an agenda and time.
In Logans Run, youll recall, an Edenic world is built upon a duplicitous conceit the mandatory murder of its citizens upon their reaching 30 years of age. Utopia, in distinct contrast, is unimaginable in Soylent Green, wherein New York City in the year 2022 yes, that particular sell-by date has passed is lacking in space and food. As a consequence, senior citizens can opt for a trip to the Thanatorium, an assisted suicide clinic run by the government.
The Japan we see in Plan 75 is rather ordinary, if considerably dour: Cinematographer Hideho Urata swathes almost the entirety of the movie in a steely gray. Overpopulation has become so dire that the government has instituted a voluntary program, Plan 75, that allows seniors to end their own lives for the greater good.
Current-day Japan does have one of the oldest populations in the world and the government, with an eye on trimming budgetary fat, has encouraged delayed retirement for its seniors. When Ms. Hayakawa was doing research for her film, she floated its premise to a group of elderly women from various social strata. To a person, each respondent said that if a Plan 75 did exist, they would submit to it in order not to be a burden to their families and to the culture at large.
Another unnerving aspect of Ms. Hayakawas film is the business-as-usual quality of the imagined bureaucracy that deals with government-sanctioned euthanasia. The advertising, the outreach, the incentives, and the amiable young people manning the front desks and working the phone lines the professionalization of death is given a benign face. There is nothing that cant be marketed in a positive light. A dour strain of satire wheedles its way through Plan 75.
At the center of the film is Michi (Chieko Baish), a 78-year-old woman who has lost her job, received notice that her home will soon be undergoing demolition, and whose best friend recently died. Having little in the way of savings and no family, Michi begins to waver on Plan 75, an option she has previously resisted entertaining. Alongside Michis travails, we follow two younger characters: Himoru (Hayato Isomura), a recruiting agent who begins to doubt the moral basis of government-sponsored euthanasia, and Maria (Stephanie Arianne), a young Filipino care-giver eager to make some extra income to take care of her sick daughter.
Over the run of Plan 75, Ms. Hayakawa proves adept at composition and eliciting nuanced performances from her cast, but is somewhat iffier as a storyteller. The shape of the film proves unwieldy, as the three separate plot lines are allowed to meander too long before they begin to hint at a common dramatic purpose. By the time we reach the denouement, the picture has fizzled in momentum.
An editor with a firmer hand mightve righted this ship. In the meantime, Plan 75 touches upon a bevy of home truths with enough deftness to make it worth your while.
Mr. Naves is an artist, teacher and critic based in New York City. His writing has appeared in City Arts, The New Criterion,The New York Observer, Slate, The Spectator World, The Wall Street Journal, and other publications.
Read more from the original source:
Is Government-Sanctioned Euthanasia Really That Far-Fetched? - The New York Sun
- Death of Catholic former Dutch prime minister highlights 'duo euthanasia' trend in Netherlands - Catholic Herald Online - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- The Deadly Trend of Double Euthanasia The European Conservative - The European Conservative - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Humane Society of Central Texas asks for help as overpopulation threatens animals with euthanasia - KWTX - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Ending euthanasia is 'an act of love,' says Canadian activist. Published Feb. 20 2024. World. - The Pilot - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- 'Duo euthanasia' of former prime minister unveils growing trend in the Netherlands - Evangelical Focus - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- To Suffer or To Live: The Dilemma of Euthanasia - CONNECTAS - Connectas - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- All you need to know about euthanasia - Nation - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Home with Dignity Enters Cincinnati, Ohio, Revolutionizing In-Home Euthanasia for Pets - PR Newswire - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Despite postponement, Canadian government 'fully committed' to expanding assisted suicide, warn country's bishops - Catholic Herald Online - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Dame Esther Rantzen explained main reason why she's choosing to die by euthanasia - LADbible - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Dame Esther Rantzen's heartbreaking last wish after she prepares for euthanasia - The Mirror - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- Dame Esther Rantzen reveals her final wish as she prepares for euthanasia - LADbible - February 24th, 2024 [February 24th, 2024]
- "My Last Day Will Be Saturday": Dutch Woman, 28, Shares Final Post Before Being Euthanised - NDTV - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Opinion | The aid-in-dying question - The Washington Post - The Washington Post - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Enjoy A Last Morbid Meme: Dutch Woman Has Funny Final Meme Before Undergoing Euthanasia - Bored Panda - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Opponents of nitrogen executions bill cite Ohio's ban on gas for pet euthanasia - The Statehouse News Bureau - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Euthanasia for mentally ill off the table in Canada for now - GZERO Media - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Odin the dog rescued from euthanasia - Lincoln - KOLN - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- 'My last day will be on Saturday': 28-year-old with ME shares final post before being euthanised - Yahoo News UK - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Odin the dog rescued from euthanasia - Lawton - KSWO - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Organ-Harvesting Requested from Those to Be Killed by Euthanasia in Quebec - National Review - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Austin Animal Center to follow new euthanasia rules for dogs with severe bite histories - Community Impact - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Dogs at Mission shelter at risk of euthanasia due to overcrowding - KRGV - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Decision Made with Regard to a Proposed Referendum on Euthanasia - Hungary Today - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Execution method used on Alabama inmate has pro-euthanasia activists worried - Live Action - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- 28-year-old Dutch woman dies by euthanasia after documenting her battle with 'chronic fatigue syndrome' - The New Indian Express - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Canada delays plans to make euthanasia on the grounds of mental illness alone legal - Right To Life UK - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- 'My last day will be Saturday - Woman, 28, shares harrowing post before euthanasia - The Mirror - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Family with children suffering from rare disease seeks euthanasia | Kerala | Onmanorama - Onmanorama - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- MAiD for mental illness must be stopped, not paused, Catholic and legal experts say - The B.C. Catholic - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- South Australian figures show 110 people used euthanasia to end their lives - CathNews - February 3rd, 2024 [February 3rd, 2024]
- Euthanasia Rates on the Rise as Dog Adoptions Slow Down - Yahoo Life - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Is Disney Building a New Roller Coaster Designed To Kill You? - Snopes.com - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Euthanasias effect on culture and society - Valencia County News Bulletin - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Arson Detection Pit Bull Hansel Escaped Euthanasia - Daily Paws - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Imagining Death | Sarah O'Dell - First Things - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- UPDATE: Fort Bend County animal shelter over 250% of capacity ... - Community Impact - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Sister Dogs and Their Puppies Spared Euthanasia Face 'Cruel Twist ... - Newsweek - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- One way to escape malpractice lawsuits: euthanise the patient - BioEdge - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Arizona legislative committee meets on animal care standards - Fronteras: The Changing America Desk - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Colombia begins sterilizing its invasive hippos: what scientists think - Nature.com - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Conference brings medics together in support of good ethics - The Catholic Weekly - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- A Wheeling Murderer was sentenced to life in prison and citizens demand answers about the euthanasia of dogs at a local animal shelter: Heres a look... - November 16th, 2023 [November 16th, 2023]
- Darwin bishop ready to champion 'value of Christian life' as ... - Catholic Leader - July 26th, 2023 [July 26th, 2023]
- Suddenly hospital transfers are an issue? - BC Catholic - Multimedia ... - The B.C. Catholic - July 26th, 2023 [July 26th, 2023]
- Dutch government to expand euthanasia law to include children aged one to 12 an ethicist's view - The Conversation - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Thousands of signatures presented to Mexican Congress urging defeat of euthanasia bill - Catholic News Agency - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Victoria's rising euthanasia rate shows governments won't bear the ... - The Catholic Weekly - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Experts looking into option of euthanasia for Noor Jehan - DAWN.com - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- More than 70 dogs in PA at risk of euthanasia by next week amid canine flu outbreak - SILive.com - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Death Upon Request: Euthanasia and Assisted-Suicide - The Speaker - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- BREAKING: Pontifical Academy of Life president calls medically assisted suicide feasible - Catholic News Agency - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- What happens to animals who die at the zoo? - WGN TV Chicago - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Opinion | Medical Assistance in Dying Should Not Exclude Mental ... - The New York Times - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Watch: 'Why Are We Safeguarding Cells?' - Philosophy Teacher ... - Lovin Malta - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- The Greatest Horror of 'Soylent Green' Isn't Soylent Green It's This - Collider - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Explained: Dying animals, lack of funds - distressing state of Pakistan zoos - WION - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Stray dog population control is dogged by bad science - The Hindu - April 23rd, 2023 [April 23rd, 2023]
- Euthanasia: Right to Die with Dignity - PMC - National Center for ... - April 14th, 2023 [April 14th, 2023]
- Pet assistance program - King County - April 8th, 2023 [April 8th, 2023]
- Euthanasia - MU School of Medicine - February 7th, 2023 [February 7th, 2023]
- Euthanasia | ama-coe - American Medical Association - February 7th, 2023 [February 7th, 2023]
- Euthanasia - Arguments in Favour and Against - ClearIAS - February 7th, 2023 [February 7th, 2023]
- Baton Rouge animal shelter overwhelmed, resorting to euthanasia: 'Please help us help them' - The Advocate - February 7th, 2023 [February 7th, 2023]
- Canadian religious leaders speak out as country set to allow euthanasia for mental illness - Fox News - November 25th, 2022 [November 25th, 2022]
- The History of the Euthanasia Movement | JSTORY Daily - November 5th, 2022 [November 5th, 2022]
- How Canada became a world leader in euthanasia - Spiked - October 25th, 2022 [October 25th, 2022]
- In places where it's legal, how many people are ending their lives ... - October 23rd, 2022 [October 23rd, 2022]
- Human Rights and Euthanasia - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- 25 Bible Verses about Euthanasia - Human Life International - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Canadian moms harrowing tale shows the real dangers of legal euthanasia - Aleteia - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Is it time to rethink the laws on assisted dying? - podcast - The Guardian - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Alive offer free adoptions for dogs and puppies - mySA - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Animal shelters are overwhelmed - The West Volusia Beacon - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Poor Canadians are now willing to legally die instead of living in Trudeaus Canada - TFI Global News - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- 43rd Senate District: Ashby, Smyth offer contrasts on farm overtime, other issues during virtual debate - The Post Star - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- John Irving's latest novel is full of empathy and affection for his characters - NOW Toronto - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- What passive euthanasia is - PubMed - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- Mehmet Oz is facing accusations of animal abuse tied to medical research. Here's what you need to know - The Morning Call - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]
- L.A. Animal Servicesa Ticking Time Bomb, and the Hypocrisy of No Kill - City Watch - October 6th, 2022 [October 6th, 2022]