Plan 75
Japan’s Oscar entry is a dystopian drama about a near future in which the government launches a program encouraging seniors to commit euthanasia.
Koureikashakai (super-aged society) is a new term to define Japan’s population. A low fertility rate combined with a high life expectancy, healthy lifestyles, and excellent medical care have conjured the perfect storm and won Japan the menacing record of being the oldest country in the world.
Imagining a dystopic, yet seemingly very real, near future, where senior citizens pose a tangible threat to the country’s economy, and elaborating on social values and a spirit of self-sacrifice, Chie Hayakawa spins a quietly subversive tale of lives caught in the cobweb of Plan 75, a government program that encourages euthanasia for people over 75 years of age. PLAN 75 premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and received a special mention from the jury for the Caméra d’Or, the award for best debut film.