I picked this film up as an after thought frankly. I had ventured into the World Cinema section of my closest CEX shop in search of a film from my favourite director Takashi Miike (I found his film Audition and walked out with that today also, but I digress). I picked this up purely because the DVD case caught my eye and upon reading the back and its reference to a dystopian near-future I found my interest peeked. Given my love of George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World; the premise of this film seemed quite interesting. Little did I suspect I would find a film so moving as this.
The film is directed by Tomoyuki Takimoto and stars Shôta Matsuda as Kengo Fujimoto, one of the civil servants charged with delivering the titular Ikigami. The film takes place in an alternate version of modern day Japan wherein the Government has imposed what is described as the National Prosperity Law. This law states that every one in one thousand people born after the law is brought in will be injected with a "nano-capsule" when they get their normal injections. This nano-capsule will explode at some time in their lives between the ages of eighteen and twenty four, causing them to die. Before this happens, an Ikigami is issued. The Ikigami is a notice given to the "Sacrificed" twenty four hours before their time of death. It alerts them to the nano-capsule and provides them with free food, lodging, transportation, and entertainment for their last twenty four hours in an effort to make their last day a memorable one.
Without spoiling anything, I would like to say this. It is rare that a film can be as emotionally moving as this. Through all of the four story arcs that this film goes through, the strong performances and top notch directing suck you into the pain of both the victims of the Ikigami law and Fujimoto himself as he attempts to deal with the tragedy his supposedly "honourable" job inflicts. The cast give top-notch performances all round, not once disengaging you from the tragedy that has beset them. While the concept of such a law and indeed the science behind such a concept are somewhat absurd, all of the elements under that law make perfect sense within itself.
I will say this warning however. The film is very depressing. Despite the occasional glimmers of hope here and there, the majority of the film does seem very hopeless; though that is a quality it shares with 1984. The distinct lack of any ability to resist the darkness that pervades the film may put off some viewers, but I found it a refreshing experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and if any of you are anything like me in your tastes, I am sure you will to.
Good day.
The film is directed by Tomoyuki Takimoto and stars Shôta Matsuda as Kengo Fujimoto, one of the civil servants charged with delivering the titular Ikigami. The film takes place in an alternate version of modern day Japan wherein the Government has imposed what is described as the National Prosperity Law. This law states that every one in one thousand people born after the law is brought in will be injected with a "nano-capsule" when they get their normal injections. This nano-capsule will explode at some time in their lives between the ages of eighteen and twenty four, causing them to die. Before this happens, an Ikigami is issued. The Ikigami is a notice given to the "Sacrificed" twenty four hours before their time of death. It alerts them to the nano-capsule and provides them with free food, lodging, transportation, and entertainment for their last twenty four hours in an effort to make their last day a memorable one.
Without spoiling anything, I would like to say this. It is rare that a film can be as emotionally moving as this. Through all of the four story arcs that this film goes through, the strong performances and top notch directing suck you into the pain of both the victims of the Ikigami law and Fujimoto himself as he attempts to deal with the tragedy his supposedly "honourable" job inflicts. The cast give top-notch performances all round, not once disengaging you from the tragedy that has beset them. While the concept of such a law and indeed the science behind such a concept are somewhat absurd, all of the elements under that law make perfect sense within itself.
I will say this warning however. The film is very depressing. Despite the occasional glimmers of hope here and there, the majority of the film does seem very hopeless; though that is a quality it shares with 1984. The distinct lack of any ability to resist the darkness that pervades the film may put off some viewers, but I found it a refreshing experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, and if any of you are anything like me in your tastes, I am sure you will to.
Good day.