Evil Does Not Exist

Academy Award-winning director Ryusuke Hamaguchi follows-up Drive My Car with another highly acclaimed film that pits a small Japanese community against a conglomerate.

Handyman Takumi (Hitoshi Omika) and his young daughter Hana (Ryo Nishikawa) live in a small, tranquil village just outside of Tokyo. Pristine spring water, lush mountainsides and serene forests where deer roam peacefully make this untouched corner of the earth a slice of heaven.

When news of a plan to build a ‘glamping’ site for city tourists on the village’s outskirts hits the community, the residents find themselves in a Goliath-like battle with an uncaring conglomerate who have little interest in the ecological health and well-being of this peaceful hamlet and its inhabitants.

Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and Best Film at the London Film Festival, director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi follows up his Oscar-winning triumph Drive My Car (2021) with a gentle environmental fable that has a very dark sting in its tail. Its temperate rhythm and thoughtful portrait of a harmonious community ruptured by outside forces linger with you.