Who Counts as Valuable in a Dystopian Future?: Exploring Ethical Dilemmas in 'Humane'

Toronto or Vancouver, Canada, Ontario or British Columbia, Canada Canada
Caitlin Cronenberg's film 'Humane' explores ethical dilemmas through a family drama set in Canada where the government offers payouts for enlistment.
Charles York plans to enlist with his family but Dawn disappears, leaving them to decide who should die.
In a dystopian future, every country commits to reducing population by 20%. The government offers payouts for those who agree to be euthanized. Older people, terminally ill, financially disadvantaged parents, prison inmates, and undocumented immigrants are among those being euthanized. Families must decide who counts as valuable.
Who Counts as Valuable in a Dystopian Future?: Exploring Ethical Dilemmas in 'Humane'

In a dystopian future where ecological disaster has led to strict population reduction measures, families are faced with difficult decisions. Every country on earth has committed to reducing its population by 20% within one year. In North America, the government's Department of Citizen Strategy (D.O.C.S.) offers substantial payouts to those who agree to be euthanized, referred to as 'enlisting' or 'joining the war'. Older people and certain groups such as prison inmates, terminally ill people, financially disadvantaged parents, and undocumented immigrants are among those being euthanized. However, the rate of enlistment is not fast enough to reach the population reduction target. Some are discussing conscription.

The world is experiencing widespread ecological collapse. Decades of ignoring scientists' warnings have led to strict rations, curfews, and a scarcity of food and water. The ozone layer is anemic from years of abuse, leaving little protection from UV rays. People walk around with reflective umbrellas to shield themselves.

In this not-so-distant future, families are faced with the ethical question: who counts as valuable? What does it mean to be good? If humans wreck the earth, what will we do to survive? Do we even deserve it?

Caitlin Cronenberg's debut feature 'Humane' explores these questions through a family drama with immensely high stakes. The film is set in Canada, where the target reduction is 20%. To coax people into joining the effort, the government offers substantial payouts to families of those who enlist. People who agree are euphemistically referred to as 'enlisting' or 'joining the war'.

Charles York (Peter Gallagher) plans to enlist with his family but Dawn disappears before they can leave. Bob, a D.O.C.S representative, tells the siblings they must decide who should die if they cannot produce two bodies for removal.

The film builds this world at a satisfyingly rapid speed, raising stakes so quickly that you're left breathless as the implications sink in.

It's important to note that while 'Humane' is a thought-provoking and tense dystopian thriller, some logical leaps may fade into the background. But these leaps do not detract from the overall impact of the film.


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Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • How does the government determine who is eligible for enlistment and payouts?
  • Is it realistic that every country would commit to reducing their population by 20% within one year?

Sources

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

‘Humane’ Review: An Ethical Crisis and a Dinner Party

The New York Times Alissa Wilkinson Thursday, 25 April 2024 09:04
  • Unique Points
    • The world is experiencing widespread ecological collapse and every country has committed to reducing its population by 20% within one year.
    • The government’s Department of Citizen Strategy offers substantial payouts to families of those who agree to be euthanized, referred to as ‘enlisting’ or ‘joining the war’.
    • Older people and certain groups such as prison inmates, terminally ill people, financially disadvantaged parents, and undocumented immigrants are among those being euthanized.
    • The rate of enlistment is not fast enough to reach the population reduction target and some are discussing conscription.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

75%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Humane movie review & film summary (2024) | Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert's Website Brian Tallerico Saturday, 27 April 2024 05:06
  • Unique Points
    • Caitlin Cronenberg directs the film 'Humane' with a debut featuring Jay Baruchel, Peter Gallagher, and Emily Hampshire.
    • Peter Gallagher plays Charles York, a former news anchor who volunteers for euthanasia with his wife Dawn (Uni Park).
    • Jay Baruchel portrays Jared York, a Tucker Carlson-esque talking head who believes in national euthanasia.
    • The film takes place on a single day at the York family home as they deal with the international order to diminish the population by 20%.
  • Accuracy
    • Charles announces his and Dawn’s decision to die, leading to a twist where the children must choose another person for euthanasia.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author expresses his opinion that the film 'disappoints' and 'never connects', but does not provide any evidence or reasoning beyond his personal feelings. He also implies that the characters are one-dimensional without providing any specific examples or analysis. Additionally, he uses emotionally charged language to describe the film's themes, such as 'nightmare vision' and 'genuinely believable'. This manipulates the reader's emotions and detracts from a fair analysis of the film.
    • This might be more forgivable if Humane had stronger visual language.
    • Resentments, regrets, and general sibling anger fill the bulk of Humane
    • The scariest thing about Humane is how genuinely believable its nightmare vision ends up being.
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The author makes an appeal to authority by mentioning Roger Ebert and his website multiple times. He also uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the film as 'deeply uninteresting' and 'an interesting story told in a deeply uninteresting manner'. The author also engages in dichotomous depiction by contrasting the clever premise of the film with its execution.
    • > Anyone coming to this film for more of the body horror imagery in the work of David Cronenberg or Brandon Cronenberg should mostly temper expectations of surreal terror. > But there’s definitely thematic connective tissue:this is another genre flick about losing control of your own being. > However,the film’s micro approach to a macro crisis never connects because we’re never given a reason to care about these specific people. > Most of what’s clever about Humane exists on its fringe—primarily in how it throws its characters from their ivory tower and then watches them fight in the mud over who gets to climb back up. > Sadly, everything else feels a little thin. > The film is clearly a COVID allegory, with a patriarch who has profited from misinformation and fearmongering kicking off a single-setting thriller.
    • Brian Tallerico is the Managing Editor of RogerEbert.com, and also covers television, film, Blu-ray, and video games. He is also a writer for Vulture, The Playlist, The New York Times, and GQ, and the President of the Chicago Film Critics Association.
    • Brian Tallerico is an authoritative voice in film criticism.
  • Bias (90%)
    The author expresses a negative opinion towards the film 'Humane' and its characters, implying that they are unlikable and make unbelievable decisions. The author also uses language to depict Jared as someone who profited from misery and fearmongering, which could be seen as a negative characterization.
    • However, all of this is concept more than execution.
      • Jared is the kind of guy who goes on TV to be a shill for his government, going as far as to suggest that he would sacrifice his own child if asked to do so.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      96%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      ‘Humane’ Review: Jay Baruchel Stars in Caitlin Cronenberg’s Tense but Underbaked Dystopian Thriller

      The Hollywood Reporter Lovia Gyarkye Thursday, 25 April 2024 20:00
      • Unique Points
        • Decades of ignoring scientists' warnings have led to strict rations, curfews, and a scarcity of food and water.
        • The government in North America has created a voluntary euthanasia program called D.O.C.S.
        • Families receive $250,000 and a ‘Thank you’ video for enlisting in the program.
        • Charles York plans to enlist with his family but Dawn disappears before they can leave.
        • Bob, a D.O.C.S representative, tells the siblings they must decide who should die if they cannot produce two bodies for removal.
      • Accuracy
        • Countries have one year to reduce their population by 20 percent as part of the Athens accord.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (95%)
        The author expresses a critical view of the government's eugenics program and its disproportionate impact on poor people. However, she does not demonstrate any bias towards or against any particular political ideology or group.
        • Jared, an anthropology professor helping the government spearhead this initiative, protests. 'You don’t need the money,' he reminds his father, affirming how this program, like so many, disproportionately harms poor people.
          • The depopulation scheme is handled by the ominously named Department of Citizen Strategy (D.O.C.S), a nascently fascist arm of the government constantly under scrutiny from watchdog groups and activists for their lack of transparency.
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication

          91%

          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

          ‘Humane’ Review: The Next Cronenberg Takes a Stab at the Family Dynasty

          Pajiba Media Inc. Lindsay Traves Friday, 26 April 2024 18:10
          • Unique Points
            • Humane is Caitlin Cronenberg's first feature film.
            • Caitlin Cronenberg directs the film Humane.
          • Accuracy
            • ]The world is experiencing widespread ecological collapse and every country has committed to reducing its population by 20% within one year.[
            • Humane is Caitlin Cronenberg's first feature film, making her the latest member of the Canadian horror-focused Cronenberg family.
          • Deception (80%)
            The article contains editorializing and selective reporting. The author expresses her personal opinions about the movie and its themes throughout the article. She also chooses to focus on certain details of the movie while omitting others, creating a biased perspective.
            • What’s difficult about this death match isn’t only that the lack of action kills some tension, but also that there’s almost no one to root for.
            • , The ensemble is relegated to a single manor where patriarch, Charles York (Peter Gallager) informs his children, Jared (Baruchel), Rachel (Hampshire), Noah (Sebastian Chacon), and Ashley (Alanna Bale) that he and his wife have decided to ‘enlist.’ In this slightly spun version of our world, to enlist is to volunteer to be euthanized in exchange for government money paid out to family members.
            • > It's not a secret I’m a fan of the Canadian clan of horror masters, the Cronenberg’s.
            • It's Charles’ integrity, so he believes, that leads him to wanting to volunteer for the program.
          • Fallacies (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Bias (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication
          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
            None Found At Time Of Publication