Takumi (Hitoshi Omika) lives a tranquil life in a rural community; taking care of his young daughter Hana (Ryo Nishikawa). When a talent agency from Tokyo proposes building a glamping retreat nearby, the residents come out in protest, raising concerns about the environmental and social impact. Takahashi (Ryuji Kosaka) and Mayuzumi (Ayaka Shibutani) from the Tokyo-based firm arrive in the village to listen to the residents’ concerns and come to an agreement.
“Evil does not Exist”, written and directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi (“Drive My Car”) is a contemplative film with an enigmatic ending that leaves you questioning everything that has gone before. Opening on a long tracking shot of overhead tree boughs, the film maintains this slow, considered pace throughout. We see Takumi chopping wood and collecting water, all playing out unedited; and a lenghty sequence of the residents airing their various grievances about the glamping site proposal. The film leaves the audience alone with their thoughts, drawing us in to the relaxed atmosphere of village life. The score, by Eiko Ishibashi, is a blend of calm and foreboding, capturing the tone of the film itself, which veers suddenly and shockingly in the final third into something far more troubling than the typical rivalry between local inhabitants and uncaring developers from the city.
The film shows both the importance of nature, its scale and its potential dangers, through the methodical sequences of rural life. We sense that for Takumi his environment is integral to how he lives, shaping his routine as well as his personality. The complaints of the residents are understandable: pollution of their water supply; the possibility of rowdy tourists; the destruction of deer habitats; but we also sense that there is something more important at stake: the connection of humans to the landscape. The title of the film is as mysterious as its ending, suggesting perhaps that evil is a man-made concept which has no place in nature; or that humans are the primary cause of suffering in the world. Some may struggle with the film’s relaxed pace, but for those willing to engage it offers a powerful take on the traditional environmental drama.
