The movie takes place either in an immediate future, or in an alternate present in Japan. The government arrives to a strange conclusion that in order to make people appreciate life and be "more productive", a few random young people must be sacrificed. And so it is implemented: all kids are injected a vaccine which, for every thousandth recipient, contains a lethal capsule which is set to explode on a certain day when the subject is between 18 and 22. One day before the day of the death, the soon-to-die person receives an "ikigami", a death notice, delivered by a special government agency, and is free to do as he wishes, travel, eat, or whatever comes naturally. Oh yes, and as soon as the procedure is implemented, the nation becomes prosperous, the suicide rates go down, and the productivity goes up. This is called "National Prosperity Law".
This story is told from the perspective of one of the "messengers of death". We get to look into the last days of a street musician who is on his way to fame, a suicidal son of a famous politician (who supports the concept of the Prosperity Law), and a small-time crook trying to help his blind sister cure her blindness by donating his own corneas after his death. The messenger, despite the directive, goes out of his way to make the last days of the dying people more meaningful.
Aside from the absurd main assumption, this is a very good movie. Too touchy-feely and clichéd at times, it does ask important questions and shows how people face the inevitable. The cast is very good, although it is difficult to judge for a Westerner. But the themes are universal, therefore it is quite understandable.
This story is told from the perspective of one of the "messengers of death". We get to look into the last days of a street musician who is on his way to fame, a suicidal son of a famous politician (who supports the concept of the Prosperity Law), and a small-time crook trying to help his blind sister cure her blindness by donating his own corneas after his death. The messenger, despite the directive, goes out of his way to make the last days of the dying people more meaningful.
Aside from the absurd main assumption, this is a very good movie. Too touchy-feely and clichéd at times, it does ask important questions and shows how people face the inevitable. The cast is very good, although it is difficult to judge for a Westerner. But the themes are universal, therefore it is quite understandable.