Evil Does Not Exist (2023)

Description

### 1. Introduction / About the Movie Directed by the internationally acclaimed Ryusuke Hamaguchi (the Oscar-winning mind behind 'Drive My Car'), 'Evil Does Not Exist (2023)' is a quiet, hauntingly beautiful environmental drama. What began as a project to create visuals for a live musical performance evolved into a full-fledged cinematic experience. The film is a masterful, slow-burn exploration of the tension between rural preservation and careless corporate expansion. It challenges audiences with its profound ambiguity, immersive pacing, and its stark, unsentimental portrayal of the natural world. ### 2. Movie Storyline (Plot Summary) The narrative is set in Mizubiki Village, a serene, pristine town located just a few hours from bustling Tokyo. The story follows Takumi, a rugged local handyman who lives a quiet life chopping wood, gathering fresh spring water, and caring for his young daughter, Hana. The village's peaceful rhythm is violently disrupted when a talent agency from Tokyo arrives with plans to build a 'glamping' (glamorous camping) site near Takumi's home. During a town hall meeting, the developers present a careless, fundamentally flawed plan that threatens to pollute the village's vital water supply. The corporate representatives, who are completely out of their depth, realize their project is doomed but are forced by their greedy superiors to push forward anyway. As the developers clumsily attempt to win Takumi over, the film builds a quiet, suffocating tension that leads to an enigmatic, shocking, and deeply debated climax in the snowy woods. ### 3. Cast and Characters Hitoshi Omika (who originally worked on Hamaguchi's production crew) stars as Takumi, delivering an incredibly grounded, naturalistic performance that grounds the film. Ryo Nishikawa plays his daughter, Hana, bringing a quiet innocence to the screen. The Tokyo corporate representatives, played by Ryuji Kosaka and Ayaka Shibutani, provide brilliant contrast, acting as the clueless but slowly awakening faces of modern capitalism. ### 4. Movie Highlights The film's cinematography by Yoshio Kitagawa is breathtaking, capturing the cold, indifferent beauty of the winter forest with long, lingering, hypnotic tracking shots. The hauntingly beautiful string score by Eiko Ishibashi dictates the rhythm of the film, creating a mood that shifts from peaceful to deeply unsettling. The town hall meeting sequence is a highlight, acting as a masterclass in realistic, tense dialogue regarding environmental politics. ### 5. Why You Should Watch This Movie If you appreciate arthouse cinema that demands patience and rewards you with deep, lingering thoughts, 'Evil Does Not Exist' is a masterpiece. It is an ecothriller that avoids preachy cliches, instead offering a complex, mysterious look at human nature and our fragile relationship with the earth.