London, 1950s: The dispassionate civil servant Mr. Williams is about to retire. But when he learns that he has been diagnosed with stomach cancer, he realises that his life has not been particularly fulfilling thus far. For the first time in his career, he skips work and decides instead to dedicate his remaining time to exactly one mission: The realisation of a new children's playground, which the city has so far refused to allow. Based on Akira Kurosawa's 1952 film IKIRU (TO LIVE), Japanese Nobel Prize-winning screenwriter Kazuo Ishiguro shifts the setting of the action from Japan to post-war London. Director Oliver Hermanus superbly sets up lead actor Bill Nighy as a reminder that it's never too late to do good for your fellow human.