Hidden Skin Gem: Speculative Sci-Fi Gets Social Realist Treatment in Plan 75

When Japanese filmmaker Chi Hayakawa returned to Tokyo in 2008 after living in New York for 10 years, he saw his homeland with new eyes, and that’s not what he remembered.

“I was surprised at how intolerant Japan has become,” he said. It was this new idea of ​​“self-responsibility” that was talked about everywhere and seemed to be a clue that the marginalized had to find in order to protect themselves.

Then, in 2016, one of the most gruesome crimes in modern Japanese history took place: a 26-year-old man stabbed, killed 19 and seriously injured 26 others at a care center for the disabled north of Tokyo. The killer justified his actions with shocking statements, advocating a world where euthanasia for people with severe disabilities could be used to “lighten the load” on their families and communities.

“I got angry and thought that Japan had accelerated the path of intolerance. How would it be? says Hayakawa. was your conclusion Plan 75.

Hayakawa’s first feature film, expanding since February 2018, represents the future of Japan, where the government has introduced a policy that offers all citizens over 75 the services of voluntary euthanasia paid at all costs. The program is aggressively delivered to seniors in Japan as a responsible way of ensuring they do not become a burden to those around them and, in return, helping the country deal with economically disadvantaged demographics. (Japan is the oldest nation in the world, with more than 29% of the population over the age of 65, compared to 17% in the United States. Social Safety Net.)

Hayakawa says that while making the film, he interviewed 15 elderly Japanese women from various backgrounds. Everyone told him that if there was a program like Plan 75, they would probably consider it “because they don’t want to be a burden.”

“In Japanese culture, we’re so attached to this idea that we shouldn’t bother other people, and it’s very inappropriate and shameful to do so,” Hayakawa said. “This makes it almost impossible for us to ask for help,” he added. “Ultimately, I wanted this movie to wake up audiences and remind them that they have empathy.”

Unlike many speculative fictions, Plan 75 He doesn’t take his conception to absurd extremes and doesn’t use an enhanced sci-fi aesthetic. Instead, he develops an outspoken, social-realist style whose influence is reinforced by the compelling nature of his detailed settings.

“People expected the movie to be futuristic science fiction, but I felt it would be more effective to help viewers imagine that this society is just a continuation of our current real world,” he said.

Plan 75 Followed by an elegant old lady (Chieko Baishô) as her options gradually dwindle: no luck in marriage and no children, she has no immediate family to spend time with; Her dear friend died suddenly; At their age, decent work becomes increasingly difficult, leading to self-sufficiency. It seems that the public is telling him more and more that Plan 75 is the only sensible option, especially after meeting the young, cheerful employees who are there to talk to him about the sales policy (participants get cash back for solving final cases) and enter. In the program (regular check-ups, just by chat, help patients to have no doubts).

Plan 75The young recruiting agent is played by handsome and distinguished Japanese actor Hayato Isomura. “I wanted someone who had such a kind face and kind demeanor when doing his job, and yet what he was doing was recommending that people die,” Hayakawa explained. “It starts out ironic, but becomes more tragic when he realizes what he’s doing.”

Finally, Plan 75 It also explores what it means to affirm life when so many parts are removed. “He wanted to show me that finding beauty in life is not something that can be explained rationally and logically by economic policy,” Hayakawa said. “In return, I tried to get a cinematic expression for him.