ONLINE EVENT - The Japan Society Film Club: Evil Does Not Exist directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Date
Wednesday 1 May 2024
Time
6.30pm (BST)
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Booking Details
Online meeting on Zoom
Please register for the meeting in advance from the link below. After registering, you will receive a automated confirmation email with meeting access details (please check your spam folder if you don't receive any emails).
Free for members of The Japan Society
Please remember to watch the film in advance.
Evil Does Not Exist is available to watch in cinemas across the UK (release date 5 April). Check the official website for local showtimes.
Please help us to keep this event free and open to all!The activities of The Japan Society are made possible thanks to the support of its members. If you are planning to attend this event and are not a member (as an individual or through your employer), please consider becoming a member or making a donation if you can - the recommended donation is £5. Thank you!   |
Join us online to discuss Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s enigmatic ecological drama Evil Does Not Exist (2023)
Evil Does Not Exist (悪は存在しない, Aku wa Sonzai Shinai, 2023) is set in the tranquil Mizubiki Village near Tokyo, where Takumi and his daughter Hana embrace a simple life in harmony with nature. Their idyllic existence is disrupted when plans for a glamping site threaten their surroundings. As representatives from Tokyo arrive to discuss the project, it becomes evident that the venture imperils the local water supply, sparking resistance. The clash between the urban project and the village's natural order jeopardizes both ecological equilibrium and the residents' way of life. Takumi's world is profoundly impacted by the agency's conflicting motives, leading to a poignant aftermath that underscores the consequences of disrupting the delicate balance between nature and progress.
Ryusuke Hamaguchi (1978-) is an award winning Japanese director and screenwriter. After graduating from the University of Tokyo, Hamaguchi worked in the commercial film industry for a number of years before entering the graduate program in film at Tokyo University of the Arts. His graduation film Passion was selected for competition at Tokyo Filmex in 2008. Following this film, he moved to the documentary field, making a three-part documentary about 3.11’s tsunami survivors directed alongside Ko Sakai.Hamaguchi first gained international recognition with the film Happy Hour (2015), Best Actress award at Locarno Film Festival for the four lead actresses, and continued with Asako I & II (2018) which competed for the Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival. In 2021, he released Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy, Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at Berlin Film Festival, and Drive My Car which won the Oscar to the Best International Feature Film. His latest film, Evil Does Not Exist (2023),was awarded Best Film at the 2023 BFI London Film Festival.
Do you love Japanese film classics, anime or contemporary cinema stories? Do you miss Japan and want to see it at least on screen? Would you like to learn and discuss about Japanese culture and society? The Japan Society Film Club is an online space to chat about films and Japan in an informal atmosphere. It take place on the first Wednesday of the month. We recommend a film to watch in advance and meet online to discuss. Films are often available online for free, to rent or with subscription, on DVD/Blu Ray or on BFI player. The event is open to all and we encourage participants to freely express their opinions and feelings about the films.
If you have any questions, please call The Japan Society office on 020 3075 1996 or email events@japansociety.org.uk.