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Evil Does Not Exist

Drama

RatingRatingRatingRatingRating4.5

DirectorRyûsuke Hamaguchi

ProducerSatoshi Takata

ScreenwriterRyûsuke Hamaguchi

DistributorSideshow / Janus Films

Release Date DateMay 3, 2024, Limited

LanguageJapanese

Runtime1h 46m

Introduction

In the rural alpine hamlet of Mizubiki, not far from Tokyo, Takumi and his daughter, Hana, lead a modest life gathering water, wood, and wild wasabi for the local udon restaurant. Increasingly, the townsfolk become aware of a talent agency's plan to build an opulent glamping site nearby, offering city residents a comfortable "escape" to the snowy wilderness. When two company representatives arrive and ask for local guidance, Takumi becomes conflicted in his involvement, as it becomes clear that the project will have a pernicious impact on the community. Ryusuke Hamaguchi's follow up to his Academy Award®-winning DRIVE MY CAR is a foreboding fable on humanity's mysterious, mystical relationship with nature. As sinister gunshots echo from the forest, both the locals and representatives confront their life choices and the haunting consequences they have.

Critics Reviews

Moira MacDonald4.4

404

May 22, 2024
"Evil Does Not Exist" is a haunting exploration of humanity's fragile bond with nature, set in the rural alpine hamlet of Mizubiki near Tokyo. Ryusuke Hamaguchi, following his Academy Award®-winning "Drive My Car," weaves a tale about the clash between tradition and modernity as a talent agency plans to build a glamping site. The film poignantly portrays the indigo darkness of the forest as a comforting blanket and delves into the transformative impact of strangers on a community. As sinister gunshots echo, both locals and visitors face the irrevocable consequences of their choices, highlighting the preciousness of what may be forever lost.

Justin Chang4.6

390

May 14, 2024
Ryusuke Hamaguchi's 'Evil Does Not Exist' masterfully captures the intricate lives of Takumi and his daughter, Hana, in the serene alpine village of Mizubiki. The looming threat of an opulent glamping site disrupts their harmonious existence, echoing broader themes of humanity's fraught relationship with nature. True to Hamaguchi's style, the characters are complex and deeply nuanced, offering more than simple archetypes. However, this film stands apart with its uniquely haunting atmosphere, punctuated by sinister gunshots and moral dilemmas. Hamaguchi's follow-up to his Academy Award®-winning 'Drive My Car' is an evocative, foreboding fable that lingers long after the final scene.
Evil Does Not Exist
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