The Japanese short film "The Beauty Tax" is set in a society where the government has introduced a "beauty tax" that requires women who are deemed beautiful to pay a higher percentage of taxes based on their level of attractiveness. The main character, Aiko, is a beautiful woman who initially resents the tax but later comes to see it as a status symbol. However, as the story progresses, the narrative shifts, and the beauty tax becomes a burden for Aiko and other beautiful women. They start to make themselves look ugly to avoid paying taxes, and the standard of beauty in society changes, with men favoring ugly women. In the end, Aiko is arrested and sentenced to prison for trying to avoid taxes by making herself look ugly. After her release, she finds that the standard of beauty has changed, and she is now considered ugly. The film explores the themes of beauty, societal pressure, and the consequences of trying to conform to unrealistic standards.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The movie "The Beauty Tax" is set in a Japanese office.
2. The manager of the office favors a beautiful woman named Aiko.
3. Aiko's coworkers are not fond of her because she gets special treatment.
4. The government announces a new law called the "beauty tax" to cope with the country's complicated financial situation.
5. The beauty tax requires attractive women to pay a certain amount of tax based on their level of attractiveness.
6. Aiko is classified as a second-level beauty and has to pay a 20% beauty tax.
7. The beauty tax applies to Aiko's salary, and she receives 20% less than her actual salary.
8. Aiko and other beautiful women protest the beauty tax, but the officer claims it is a reasonable law to ensure fairness.
9. Aiko's perspective on the beauty tax changes when she realizes she has had "pretty privilege" all her life.
10. Aiko tries to become prettier to pay more taxes, but her efforts are thwarted when she finds out that Raiko, a more beautiful woman, has undergone plastic surgery to become ugly.
11. Aiko is fired from her job because the company has to pay more taxes for beautiful employees.
12. Beauty products that make women appear uglier start selling out, and men begin to avoid beautiful women because of their high cost of living.
13. Aiko meets a man named Nonomura who offers to help her lower her taxes, but it is revealed that he is a marriage swindler who targets beautiful women.
14. Aiko is arrested and sentenced to two years in prison for trying to avoid paying taxes by making herself look ugly.
15. Aiko's cellmate advises her to focus on beautifying her heart rather than her physical appearance.
16. After her release from prison, Aiko tries to work on her heart, but she is still offended by comments about her physical appearance.
17. The standard of beauty has changed in the past two years, and ugly women are now considered more beautiful than traditionally beautiful women.