Evil Does Not Exist: HAMAGUCHI Ryuusuke sets his drama in the most serene place possible, which makes it clear why a Tokyo company wants to turn a piece of land into a glorified camping site and also why the village inhabitants are so set on defending it. The defense is spirited but pragmatic, more interested in building bridges than burning them. The film is also more interested in what that shake-up does to its protagonist, a taciturn handyman who knows that region like the palm of his hand. That is a quiet and beautiful creation by OMIKA Hitoshi. It also, in any case, respects the “enemy” represented by a pair of very sympathetic representatives (played nicely by SHIBUTANI Ayaka and KOSAKA Ryuji). This is a slow-moving film that goes to surprising places as it patiently watches the characters and nature and that is unafraid to be open-ended. Cinematographer KITAGAWA Yoshio captures the serenity of the place with his very quiet camerawork, while composer ISHIBASHI Eiko contributes with a score that highlights the uneasiness of the situation. Certainly a very interesting film.