'Evil Does Not Exist' Review: 'Drive My Car's Ryusuke Hamaguchi Gets Quieter And Reflective With EcoDrama | TIFF 2023
Risuke Hamaguchi , writer and director of recent masterpieces such as Drive My Car and Wheel of Fortune Fantasy, originally envisioned his latest film , Evil Does Not Exist, as a series of silent films with his new Drive score. my car Composer Eko Ishibashi . When evil doesn't exist , it's easy to imagine that's exactly what we'll see as Ishibachi's music plays over Hamaguchi's lap under a beautiful sky of snow-covered trees. The opening shot lasts too long and the music ends abruptly, as if Hamaguchi is assuring us that evil does not exist, that there will be more than just accompaniment from another magnificent Ishibashi score.
However, Hamaguchi never strays too far from this basic premise of Evil Does Not Exist , as we follow worker Takumi ( Hitoshi Omika ) and his daughter Hana ( Ryo Nishikawa ) in the small town of Mizubiki near Tokyo. The couple collects water in silence while Takumi chops wood for a few minutes. It's a very boring introduction where the most surprising thing that happens is the discovery of a wasabi plant to harvest at a nearby noodle shop.
Evil Does Not Exist is deliberately slow, and that's what makes it great.
But like Drive My Car, Hamaguchi makes quiet and contemplative moments important to his story. As we explore the forest with Takumi and Hana, we are shown the beauty of the natural resources, the tranquility of this community, and the dependence of their way of life on nature. Hamaguchi builds this world alone, allowing us to contemplate this realm and see the wonders these people see every day, an important element of what is about to happen.
After the land is created , Evil Does Not Exist focuses mainly on the company and its two representatives ( Ryuji Kosaka and Ayaka Shibutani ) who arrive in the area to discuss plans to build a luxury resort on the land. Almost immediately, local residents realized the problems of the project. Their septic tanks will contaminate the surrounding water, deer can jump into lighted areas, and the lack of staff means guests will have little supervision to do as they please. When people turned against the company, the two company representatives began to see the flaws in the business model and spent time in the field to understand what their company was not seeing.
No Evil is mostly a quiet and contemplative film that often feels more like trying to create a mood than relying on a plot. We see Takumi and Hana survey the land, we see the company confront Mizuki's men, and then Takumi and Hana show the land again to two representatives who wonder what kind of area they can build. Hamaguchi takes a nuanced approach to both sides, never labeling the intervening agency as the "bad guys," even though we recognize that their plan is deeply flawed. Hamaguchi seems to be trying to show how such environmental problems can often be solved by listening to and understanding the land, but it never focuses enough to penetrate the film's calmer surroundings.
This makes Hamaguchi's decision to end "Evil Exists" particularly odd, a surprising move that doesn't fit with the rest of the film. It's not some sort of Gene Dillman approach, but instead Hamaguchi doesn't know how to end this film, which doesn't rely heavily on plot. It's a small shock that Hamaguchi looks out of place with the tone he's shown us so far.
But "No Evil" could be even more exciting because it's how Hamaguchi decided to follow up his Oscar-winning "Drive My Car," instead of using his newfound popularity to create something bigger and expand the possibilities. to knit. On the contrary, Hamaguchi has outdone himself by creating something simply but elegantly told. It's more of an experiment than a real story, and the result is pretty good, if somewhat understated.
"Evil Does Not Exist" lets the soundtrack and visuals take over
At least without focusing too much on the actual story, Hamaguchi lets other aspects of the filmmaking shine. Of course, Ishibashi's music becomes central to the story, playing alongside the beautiful visuals, but this is surprisingly cut short when we finally sink into a sense of security. As mentioned, Hamaguchi originally intended it to be about the visual effects, and he continues to achieve this with Yoshio Kitagawa's stunning cinematography. The way he builds these walks through the forest is charming in itself, and seeing something as simple as snow fall while Takumi chops a piece of wood is mesmerizing.
Hamaguchi's Drive My Car works so well because of the small, quiet moments in life, driving from one place to another, and the unknown moments that hide us. Evil Does Not Exist turns these moments into an entire feature film, and while it seems short at times, the approach itself is beautiful; A skilled director takes his time and embraces silence. After a Best Picture nomination, most filmmakers wouldn't go in this direction, but it's worth noting that Hamaguchi decided to go there.
Rating: B+
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- No Evil is a thoughtful and visually stunning film that prioritizes atmosphere over plot, showcasing the beauty of nature and the importance of listening and understanding.
- The film explores the conflict between a company planning to build a glamping site and a community opposed to it, discussing environmental issues and flawed business models.
- Although the film's ending feels a bit odd, it's a testament to director Riasuke Hamaguchi's decision to take a step back and create something that's told simply but elegantly, emphasizing the power of the visuals and music. .
No Evil had its North American premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival.
