Following the success of the Oscar-winning Drive My Car, Japanese director Ryūsuke Hamaguchi returns with an intimate, ecological drama: Le Mal n'existe pas(Aku wa sonzai shinai). The film plunges into the heart of a small village near Tokyo, where the inhabitants, living an existence in harmony with their environment, find themselves confronted with a glamorous camping project that threatens the fragile balance of their ecosystem. With a cast featuring Hitoshi Omika, Ryo Nishikawa and Ryûji Kosaka, Hamaguchi continues his exploration of human relationships, here tinged with environmental and societal issues.
Le Mal n'existe pas will be shown in French cinemas from April 10, 2024.
Synopsis: Takumi and his daughter Hana live in the village of Mizubiki, near Tokyo. Like their elders before them, they lead a modest life in harmony with their environment. The planned construction of a "glamorous campsite" in the neighboring nature park, offering city dwellers a comfortable escape to nature, will endanger the ecological balance of the site and profoundly affect the lives of Takumi and the villagers...
Le Mal n'existe pas is aimed at audiences sensitive to intimate dramas and environmental issues. Fans of auteur cinema, already won over by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi's delicate universe in Drive My Car or Asako I & II, should appreciate the contemplative, introspective style that characterizes his works. With its story centered on the tensions between rural traditions and modernity, the film could also appeal to viewers interested in ecological issues and societal conflicts.
This drama is reminiscent of films such as Naomi Kawase's Still the Water and Terrence Malick's A Hidden Life, which also explore the complex relationship between man and his natural environment. However, Le Mal n'existe pas stands out for its Japanese roots and its focus on contemporary dilemmas surrounding the gentrification of nature.
On the other hand, those who prefer a fast-paced narrative or action-packed plots may find the film less accessible.
With Le Mal n'existe pas, Ryūsuke Hamaguchi offers a poetic and incisive reflection on the coexistence between man and his environment. Through the eyes of a Japanese village threatened by intrusive industrialization, the director invites viewers to question human responsibility towards nature. Viewers in search of deep, sensitive narratives should find this film a timeless and striking work.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
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