About

Set in Mizubiki, an idyllic village located just outside the megalopolitan sprawl of Tokyo, Ryusuke Hamaguchi's latest feature Evil Does Not Exist finds a community on the precipice of major change. Amidst misty woods and pristine creeks, the local townspeople — including taciturn Takumi and his inquisitive young daughter Hana — live in respectful balance with the nature that surrounds their village. This harmony is threatened by the impending arrival of a new "glamping" site, conceived by a Tokyo-based company hoping to cash in on expiring business subsidies. As the advance of uncaring bureaucracy approaches, the delicate equilibrium so carefully cultivated by the residents of Mizubiki begins to falter. Winner of the 2023 Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, the film is an eco-parable both drolly funny and deeply resonant; it enthralls with its patient gaze and a lush score by Eiko Ishibashi that is flecked with disquiet even at its most sumptuous.

PG | Mild themes and violence