TRAILERS

Acclaimed Japanese Drama 'Plan 75' Opens in US Theaters This April

by Alex Billington
March 15, 2023
Source: YouTube

"We're all alone in life." KimStim has announced an official US release date for this indie from Japan titled Plan 75, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Chie Hayakawa. It premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at last year's 2022 Cannes Film Festival, and stopped by Busan, Karlovy Vary, and Toronto. In a near dystopian future, Japan's government launches "Plan 75", a program encouraging the elderly to terminate their own lives to better handle its rapidly aging population. In Chie Hayakawa's remarkable and sensitive film, the lives of three ordinary citizens intersect in this new reality. "On the surface, the plan and its hawkers exude a kindness that serves as the film's chilling vision of bureaucratic indifference and our increasing loss of interconnectedness. However, Hayakawa's view is far from grim, as these characters soon learn to fully reckon with their own lives and what it truly means to live." The film stars Chieko Baishô and Hayato Isomura. One of the best reviews of this is written by Marya E. Gates, stating "that's where magic can be found." It's start to screen in limited US theaters in late April / early May. Take a look below.

Here's the first official trailer (+ Japanese poster) for Chie Hayakawa's Plan 75, direct from YouTube:

In a near dystopian future, Japan's government launches Plan 75, a program encouraging the elderly to terminate their own lives to relieve its rapidly aging population's social and economic burdens. Legendary Japanese actress Chieko Baishō stars as a 78-year-old Michi who considers signing up for the program after losing her meager but fulfilling hotel job and the means to live independently. A younger Plan 75 salesman Himoru (Hayato Isomura) initially believes in the program's benefits and serves as the human face of the program. And Maria (Stephanie Arianne), a Filipino care worker living overseas, reluctantly accepts a position with Plan 75 to send money home to her ailing daughter. Plan 75 is directed by up-and-coming Japanese filmmaker Chie Hayakawa, making her feature directorial debut after a few other shorts previously. The screenplay is also written by Chie Hayakawa, from a story by Jason Gray and Hayakawa. This initially premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival. Kim Stim will debut Hayakawa's Plan 75 in select US theaters (NY & LA at first) starting on April 21st, 2023 this spring. For more info, visit the official site.

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