Due to the growing opposition to elderly people in Japan, the government created a program called "Plan 75." Its goal is to make it easier for seniors aged 75 or older to kick the bucket. Even though it appears harsh and unethical, which it is, Chie Hiyakawa's vision of the future makes it all seem reasonable.
"Plan 75" is about three interconnected stories.
Michi (Baishô Chieko) is already 78 years old. Since losing her job and her apartment, she’s been trying to find a way to keep living. It is not like she can’t work anymore; people are just uninterested in entertaining her because of her age. The pressure of life soon finds her, and at one point it seems like volunteering to sign up for Plan 75 for a small compensation makes sense. She then befriends a young call center agent named Yoko (Yuumi Kawai) who helped her come into terms with her mortality.
A processing agent of the program, Hiromu (Hayato Isomura), has a very interesting encounter during one of his shifts. His widowed uncle Yukio (Takao Taka) signed up for the program for unknown reasons. He’s probably lived a good life and is ready to go, but Hiromu is still curious about it. So he pays him a visit often, and during their times together, he realized one thing: he must convince him not to push through with his decision.
Meanwhile, Filipino nurse Maria (Stefanie Arianne Akashi) is unable to provide for her daughter's surgery. One day, a co-church member offered her a job in the Plan 75 program. The compensation is good, but the work requires medical expertise and a strong heart.
These three characters will eventually cross paths, an encounter will change how one views life and death.
"Plan 75" is Chie Hayakawa's debut film, and it’s already Japan’s entry for the 95th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. It is currently part of the 10th Qcinema International Film Festival.
The first thing that stands out with "Plan 75" is definitely the potential of the premise, which is on par in vibe with any "Black Mirror" episode. It's borderline unruly, edgy, and angsty, and completely antithetical to Japanese cultures and morals. Hayakawa justified the film's plot by citing the country's growing elderly population, which is true, by the way. Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world. Whether that’s a good or bad thing in terms of economics is up for debate, but to allow them to voluntarily pass away is a horrible idea that one might quickly refute.
Chie Hayakawa’s voice becomes so important in letting the viewers know that her conception of the pessimistic plot comes to an earnest place. She obviously condemns it, even calling it problematic in one of her interviews. But that’s the point. It’s supposed to trigger people with its dehumanizing concept. Ultimately, it presents a possibility and a question: what’s stopping the government from getting rid of non-contributing people in society? There are already 8 billion people in the world, and the Earth's resources will someday be scarce. Looking at the current situation, it feels like it is inevitable.
It's a contemplative and depressing thought, indeed. But the film is generally peaceful and quiet. It follows the characters' daily lives without too much judgment, oftentimes putting the real conflict in the backseat. Hayakawa makes sure that the viewers will feel hope despite the film's cold atmosphere. Yes, there’s still a tinge of inherent sadness in it. Seeing these people live their lives and do their best while silently suffering from the notion that they are useless to society will understandably make you bawl your eyes out in anguish.
As said, Hayakawa never completely agrees with the Plan 75 program. She’s actually also scared of its potential in the real world. Thus, "Plan 75" is her protest film against a fictional concept that’s never been conceived yet. It conveys the intriguing message that the system we have in place right now and the ways we fail to help elderly people become contributing members of society are the real issues, not their value or morality.
Besides the premise, what puts "Plan 75" in contention is the performance of Baishô Chieko. The veteran actress has this peachy tenderness and susceptibility that make her such an admirable character to watch. She has the most screen time, and it’s understandable with her kind of talent. Hayato Isomura, Stefanie Arianne Akashi, Yuumi Kawai, and Takao Taka all exhibit incredible acting as well. But Chieko is undoubtedly the star of the show.
"Plan 75" can provoke, but it can also make you reflect. There are numerous ways to watch this film, but one thing is certain: You will be moved by the characters and their circumstances. And in a slow-burning film like this, it is important that we are all on board with the idea that there is beauty in living your life.
3.5/5
