Event
Evil Does Not Exist
“I had no idea where Hamaguchi’s cautionary tale was taking me, but I remained intrigued until the bitter end.” – Boston Globe
“The ending will probably confound you, but its power lies in what particulars are provided, and how it leaves us wondering about the unstoppable dreams of humans and the ageless realities of nature.” – LA Times
“It’s a fable, like a simple game of good versus evil, that unspools with such density of narrative that it takes the breath away.” – AV Club
91% on Rotten Tomatoes
Synopsis:
In the rural alpine hamlet of Mizubiki, near 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.
(In Japanese with English subtitles)
