The Price of Life (1987) Online

I saw this movie as a kid by accident, watching over my neighbor's house and it stuck in my mind for years, but i couldn't remember the name of the movie or of the actors. Working in a video store i would spend entire shifts going over the Sci-Fi section trying to find this gem but to no avail. I guess this really is the age of information when you can find childhood memories with a click of a mouse. (Thanks IMDb for your power search). Anyway, does anyone know how to get hold of a copy? I guess it's never come out for rental... or has it? Overall, great movie, great idea, compelling and interesting, the acting was decent and the movie's style was dark and oblique.

Aired on Showtime as part of the 30 Minute Movie series in the early 90's. This short film is set in a place where people used credit cards and traded time off their life instead of money. The main characters are a young clever dealer and his sister who squanders all her time. A wealthy woman takes an interest in the kid and shows him some of the rules aren't as rigid as they are told, such as the one where you can go to some place only once in your life and make one single request. I think he gives time to his mother when he makes his request earlier in the story?

Don't expect a single special effect or any glamorous settings. It is a budget movie, so do not expect a Hollywood production.

The movie just tells a story about a boy from the start of his life until his youth.

The movie takes place in a dark and grim world. Maybe looking a bit post apocalyptic. In this world the currency you pay for goods is time. And when no more time then you die.

The actors do a good job.

I can recommend watching the movie. If you do not like the movie then you do only waste 40 minutes :-)

Forgive me Lord for I am biased...

Like most people, I first contacted this "object" back in the days of its first appearance on TV. I was just a kid, and it had the most profound impact on me. Gradually forgot about it until, years later, while studying cinema, was asked what were my first audiovisual recollections... and it all came back to me. Finally found it... finished watching it a couple of minutes ago.

(I've been here - he thinks - feels like grandmas attic)

I have noticed that the more formal a film/video is, the most enduring is its impression on me. This is not one of those cases. And yet...

The dystopian world portrayed re-got me by the hemispheres... sure, it poses some issues for the contemporary viewer, as the production values are obviously not on a par with the potential of this universe. The script (thought for 40 mn) and casting also come short, and it has become very dated... so, in order not to make "anachronic" judgments, please remember the TV budgets and general technological conditions at the time.

I will not go on describing it any more, for am afraid of killing something fragile that apparently subsisted within.

In the future money is not the most valuable commodity – nor stocks nor shares. Instead the currency of choice is time and the populace are able to trade hours, days and weeks off their lives in exchange for services and goods. Into this world is born baby Zachary – who grows into a little boy with a game plan and a scheme to make more time; whereas his sister swaps weeks for sweets etc as if it didn't matter. As adults, Zachary has continued this path, but so has his sister and he finds himself trying to challenge the rules to try and save her and his mother.

The film opens with a strange moment that becomes clearer a few seconds later when we realise that time is everything here. The film continues this thread by setting up the characters in a childhood section that, although not totally successful, is at least pretty interesting. The adult bit is immediately compelling on two levels thanks to the death – that it is so shocking but also that it is accepted by those around the deceased as a normal event (the waiter is particularly cruel). The final section of the film is less clear as it involves the smart woman and the "old ones", neither of whom are really that explained – it also reveals a rather American aspect to the film in how it looks at people. The "haves" live long while the poor are forced to give up their time to them in exchange for life – from here on in it is best if we read (as we are meant to) time for money.

Baring this in mind I didn't think much of the film's conclusion that everyone gets the same start in life and those who die young deserve it. This view is typically American, where anyone can be famous, rich or even President, however in the UK I think we know the structure better than that. In reality those born into homes with debt of time/money cannot ever get out, whereas those who are born into wealth etc will have a better chance – there are exceptions of course but this is mainly true. The film taking this line (we have only ourselves to blame) is rather clumsy and unpleasant and it takes away from the rest of the film. The cast are OK and features some good actors, including a cameo for Fred Ward.

Overall this is a very interesting film that is bleak and looks good (on a budget) despite not coming together quite as well as it should have done. It is still worth seeing but the lack of development and explanation in the final section is a problem, especially when combined with a rather harsh viewpoint – not a socialist future then?