‘Evil Does Not Exist’ Trailer: Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Follow-Up To Acclaimed Oscar-Winning ‘Drive My Car’

Acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi wowed international audiences and critics with his drama “Drive My Car,” which earned the Best International Feature Film Oscar in 2022. The venerated director is back with “Evil Does Not Exist,” an ecological fable with genre elements about a father and daughter living in the wilderness outside Tokyo. The domestic distributors Sideshow and Janus Films have released a trailer, and the movie will open in limited release in May.

READ MORE: ‘Evil Does Not Exist’ Review: Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s ‘Drive My Car’ Follow-Up Is An Oblique Ecological Fable [TIFF]

Here is how the official logline for “Evil Does Not Exist.”

In the rural alpine hamlet of Mizubiki, not far from Tokyo, Takumi and his daughter, Hana, lead a modest life gathering water, wood, and wild wasabi for the local udon restaurant. Increasingly, the townsfolk become aware of a talent agency’s plan to build an opulent glamping site nearby, offering city residents a comfortable “escape” to the snowy wilderness. When two company representatives arrive and ask for local guidance, Takumi becomes conflicted in his involvement, as it becomes clear that the project will have a pernicious impact on the community.

“Evil Does Not Exist” screened at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, and you can read The Playlist’s review for it right here. Our review praised the direction and visual aesthetics of the drama. “The film is immaculately directed and staged with the quiet competence of a superlative filmmaker. In particular, the considerable exterior footage, filmed on location in visually enticing settings, is pristine and well-photographed. The snow-laden winter setting and the mist and fog of the topography add visual interest throughout the film.”

The film’s cast includes Hitoshi Omika, Ryo Nishikawa, Ryuji Kosaka, and Ayaka Shibutani. Sideshow and Janus Films will release the new pic from Hamaguchi in limited release in New York City on May 3, 2024. Watch the trailer below.