Japanese film wins Best Film at London Film Festival

[FWN Adm]

At the 67th London Film Festival Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi takes the Best Film award with his latest film EVIL DOES NOT EXIST.

The enigmatic pic is Hamaguchi's follow-up to the Oscar-winning Drive My Car and follows young father Takumi and his daughter, Hana, who live in Mizubiki Village, close to Tokyo. Like generations before them, they live a modest life according to the cycles and order of nature. A plan to construct a glamping site near Takumi's house, offering city residents a comfortable "escape" to nature, threatens to endanger the ecological balance of the area and the local people's way of life.  Headed by Mexican filmmaker Amat Escalante, alongside with Kate Taylor, program director of the 2023 Edinburgh International Film Festival, and English novelist Niven Govinden described Evil Does Not Exist as subtle and cinematic.

"Underscored by fully realized performances, Hamaguchi's assured drama supersedes the sum of its parts. It is both a lyrical portrait of family and community and a nuanced consideration of the ethics of land development. Amidst a strong competition, the jury is unanimous in our admiration," the jury said.

 Watch the Official Trailer