271. Plan 75; movie review

 

PLAN 75

Cert 15

113 mins

BBFC advice: Contains suicide, assisted death theme

The concept of euthanasia at a defined age is not new in the movies - Logan's Run broke that ground.

But the subject is much more deftly handled and resonates powerfully in Chie Hayakawa's touching Plan 75.

This quiet drama is set in Japan, the country with the world's fast-ageing population.

The state is creaking under the pressure of providing public services, so the law is changed to offer voluntary euthanasia to those over 75.

Some jump at the chance, believing it is their duty to help the country and its younger generations. Meanwhile, others struggle with the decision.

Plan 75 stars the terrific Chieko Baisho as 78-year-old Mishi. She hangs out with three close friends and works as a hotel cleaner but has no family.

She is uncertain about giving up on life, but difficult circumstances prompt her to re-evaluate.

Meanwhile, the movie also focuses on young government workers who are helping lead the old folk down the path of euthanasia.

Hayato Isomura plays the quietly efficient recruiter who provides the elderly with their departure forms.

He seems to have few ethical qualms about his role until he meets someone he knows.

Stefanie Arianne is an immigrant worker who is collecting cash for her sick child and is taken on to clean up after each customer has passed away and also sift through their belongings.

She wrestles with her conscience and over where her loyalties lie.

Indeed, Plan 75 is awash with moral conundrums and I asked myself over and over: "What would I do there?"

Its direction is sublime and its actors, especially Baisho, make it feel real.

It made me want to see more of Hayakawa's work.

Reasons to watch: Very interesting concept

Reasons to avoid: A little bit slow

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: Yes

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 9/10

Did you know? To date, Japan's euthanasia policy has been decided by two local court cases, one in Nagoya in 1962, and another after an incident at Tokai University in 1995. The first case involved "passive euthanasia" (i.e., allowing a patient to die by turning off life support) and the latter case involved "active euthanasia" (e.g., through injection). The judgments in these cases set forth a legal framework and a set of conditions within which both passive and active euthanasia could be legal.

The final word. Chie Hayakawa: "Living a long life used to be a good thing; it was considered to be a precious thing. But now, people feel like being too old is not really a good thing. People worry about being poor, worry about getting dementia, worry about losing their house. The ageing issue is really very serious shadow cast over the people." The Upcoming

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