Does evil exist? Is one person’s evil just another’s self preservation? Those and more questions about the nature of evil or even its existence still crop up in my mind weeks after viewing a press screening of Evil Does Not Exist, the latest feature by director of Academy-Award and BAFTA-winner Drive My Car, Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
Written and directed by Hamaguchi, this latest film by the Japanese auteur is set in a small town on the edge of a forest within driving distance of Tokyo. Here single parent Takumi and his daughter Hana live a slow-paced life of rural charm. All seems well until big city business folk seek to cash in on the forest’s pristine beauty by developing a glamping site in near proximity of the town. Conflict ensues with decisive action resulting in harsh consequences.
The location for much of this movie is indeed forested, pristine and beautiful yet never steals the scene from the human interaction. Actor Hitoshi Omika, who plays Takumi, delivers a lowkey performance of a stoic but caring father. His performance is an ideal match to that of Ryo Nishikawa, who plays his young daughter Hana with similarly understated acting.
Hamaguchi’s direction allows for space between the words and actions of all the cast – and their environments, managing loose moments with the subtle assuredness of a master.
Evil Does Not Exist made its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, where it was selected to compete for the Golden Lion, winning the Grand Jury Prize and the FIPRESCI Award from the International Federation of Film Critics. It was awarded Best Film at the 2023 BFI London Film Festival.
UK cinema release date for Evil Does Not Exist is 5 April 2024.
Find out more at modernfilms.com/evildoesnotexist.
