The Price of Life (1987)

The Price of Life Poster

The hours of your life as a currency you can buy or sell, trade or squander...

Film Background
"The Price of Life" is an American movie launched in 1987 with Stephen Tolkin as its director. It's a short drama and sci-fi film that's around 22 minutes long, scripted by Stephen Tolkin and Michel Monteaux. This thought-provoking movie successfully utilizes the concept of lifespan as a type of currency and strongly demonstrates the societal ramifications of such an idea.

Plot Overview
The film provides a futuristic world where the main concept focuses on time as life's core currency. This design of existence makes it possible for higher classes to live for centuries while reducing the life span substantially for those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The movie explores the variations created in society through the protagonist, Zachary, who is involved in an important life-challenging problem.

On turning 30, each person gets a digital clock implanted in their arm, showing the quantity of time left in their life. The amount of time an individual has left identifies their wealth, and time can likewise be transferred from one person to another through a device referred to as a "Ticker".

Main Characters
The lead character, Zachary, is from a wealthy background with a life span of hundreds of years. He quickly satisfies the love of his life, Suzie, who only has a brief time delegated live due to the fact that she originates from a bad family. This leads Zachary into an ethical and ethical crisis. Not sure of how to deal with the circumstance, he faces a tough choice: to continue living his elegant life for centuries or contribute his years to Suzie and her bad community, successfully choosing a much shorter life span.

Theme Analysis
"The Price of Life" explores and unfolds complicated societal styles. Its big effect originates from its exploration of social inequality, mirroring real-life injustice based upon wealth and resources. It highlights how life's chances and longevity are typically connected to economic scenarios. The audience is forced to ponder the alarming repercussions where life ends up being a traded commodity, and wealthier individuals can purchase more life, resulting in severe disparities.

Crucial Reception
The critics applauded the movie for its unique plot, highlighting extensive ramifications and social critiques. The story's pacing within its minimal running time was also praised. Regardless of being covered in a sci-fi environment, it's rather quite about human nature, ethically tough and mentally haunting. "The Price of Life" is not merely a film; it is a societal review that accentuates real-world economic and social disparities, making it a thought-provoking piece.

Conclusion
"The Price of Life" is an impactful piece of science fiction that acts as a mirror to society and its deeply deep-rooted inequalities. With the life-span as a step of wealth, the film exposes deep-seated societal disparities. It sensitively explores the ethical and moral ramifications of this new 'wealth,' putting the audience in the protagonist's dilemma. Given the societal complexities that the film explores, it engages the audience till completion and makes them concern present societal norms. It is a film that is hauntingly prescient in its critique of social injustice and inequality.

Top Cast

  • Diana Bellamy (small)
    Diana Bellamy
  • Dustin Diamond (small)
    Dustin Diamond
  • John Fleck (small)
    John Fleck
  • Willie Garson (small)
    Willie Garson
  • Judy Geeson (small)
    Judy Geeson
  • Richard Green (small)
    Richard Green
  • Bob McCracken (small)
    Bob McCracken
  • Ebbe Roe Smith (small)
    Ebbe Roe Smith
  • Alison Sweeney (small)
    Alison Sweeney
  • Fred Ward (small)
    Fred Ward
  • R.J. Williams (small)
    R.J. Williams