Evil Does Not Exist (dir. Ryûsuke Hamaguchi) x VIFF 2023.

It’s an engaging yet unsettling portrait of anti-capitalist confrontation in the vein of true Japanese politeness. Despite the very serious, often grim tone, Evil Does Not Exist is frequently laugh-out-loud funny in its deliberately stilted dialogue. Still, Hamaguchi contines to make driving in cars and smoking silently (or doing both at the same time) look so damn cool on screen.

• Screened at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Special Presentations program.