The new film from Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Evil Does Not Exist has a new official trailer. The trailer offers an intense look at this eco-drama. The film has already received global critical acclaim. The winner of the Silver Lion Grand Jury and Fipresci prizes at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival and Best Film Award at the 2024 Asian Film Awards, the film is a must-watch.
Hamaguchi is one of our greatest working filmmakers. While his launch to global attention came on the heels of his Oscar winning Drive My Car, his entire filmography consists of engaging, must-see films that study the human condition. His empathetic gaze is felt in the anthology film Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy. His mediations on life, love, and friendship are present in the five hour Happy Hour. He finds mystique and romance in the startling Asako I & II. His latest, Evil Does Not Exist, looks to probe similar questions with the similar, steady direction.
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As is the case with most of his films, Evil Does Not Exist highlights first-time actors.
What Is Evil Does Not Exist About
Takumi and his daughter Hana live in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. One day, the village inhabitants become aware of a plan to build a glamping site near Takumi’s house; offering city residents a comfortable ‘escape’ to nature. When two company representatives from Tokyo arrive in the village to hold a meeting, it becomes clear that the project will have a negative impact on the local water supply, causing unrest. The agency’s mismatched intentions endanger both the ecological balance of the nature plateau and their way of life, with an aftermath that affects Takumi’s life.
Cast and Crew
- Hitoshi Omika
- Ryo Nishikawa
- Ryuji Kosaka
- Ayaka Shibutani (Happy Hour)
Director/Writer: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Producers: Satoshi Takata
Release Date
Evil Does Not Exist will premiere in New York and L.A. on May 3rd via Sideshow and Janus Films.
EVIL DOES NOT EXIST – Official US Trailer
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.
