Evil Does Not Exist
Directed by Ryusuke HamaguchiCast: Ayaka Shibutani, Hazuki Kikuchi, Hitoshi Omika, Ryo Nishikawa, Ryuji Kosaka
Opening Night Film
Mizubiki Village, a rural town near Tokyo, has become the target for a glamping site. The village is home to a group of resilient townspeople whose lives depend on the quiet nature they surround themselves with. Takumi, a community leader, odd-jobs man, and single father of curious Hana, has a peaceful daily routine of collecting water, chopping firewood, and picking his daughter up from school. However, with ruthless developers from Tokyo intruding on their abode, the very fabric of what keeps Takumi and the villagers together is threatened. With a sweeping score and poetic pace, this mysterious film from Ryûsuke Hamaguchi (“Drive My Car,” “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy”), depicts the surprises of wildlife, the silence of the woods, and the dark nature of humans that inhibit it.