Ryusuke Hamaguchi's Evil Does Not Exist (2023) (Janus Contemporaries)

[MifuneFan]

Criterion will be releasing Ryusuke Hamaguchi's Evil Does Not Exist (2023) coming to Blu-ray through their Janus Contemporaries line on December 17th.

https://www.criterion.com/films/3408...does-not-exist

In a secluded, snowy mountain village, widower and single father Takumi (Hitoshi Omika) leads a modest life gathering water, wood, and wild wasabi for a friend’s udon shop. Yet this peaceful existence is threatened when a pair of corporate reps (Ryuji Kosaka and Ayaka Shibutani) arrive to launch a glamping site, sparking resistance from community members who fear the project’s potentially pernicious impact on the environment. When Takumi—a respected local figure—is offered the conciliatory role of site caretaker, it becomes unclear where his loyalties lie. Evil Does Not Exist, Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s much-anticipated follow-up to his Academy Award–winning Drive My Car, is a haunting, suspenseful meditation on humankind’s thorny relationship with nature, consumerism, and itself. Inspired by a collaboration with composer Eiko Ishibashi, the director showcases his masterful command of pacing and atmosphere to uncover the destructive forces lurking beneath the thin veneer of civilization.

INCLUDES

• Meet the Filmmakers, a new interview with director Ryusuke Hamaguchi
• Trailer

EVIL DOES NOT EXIST - Official US Trailer - YouTube

[DukeTogo84]

Been waiting on this one. Ryusuke Hamaguchi is one of my favorite current Japanese directors. Very good at depicting the human condition.

[KrugerIndustrial]

I wonder if MUBI will release this in the UK, perhaps even in 4K.

[a priori]

Originally Posted by KrugerIndustrial

I wonder if MUBI will release this in the UK, perhaps even in 4K.

Picture House Entertainment is releasing the blu-ray Oct. 07 in the UK.

[Gamelore]

I believe this movie should have been graduated to Criterion proper, but maybe there are other factors.

I'm sad with so many niche/indie movies not making it to 4K. I would assume the intersection between owners of 4K players and people into this is enough to be profitable, and blu-ray only people probably wouldn't be seeking out something like this.

[UnionJackMix]

Stunning artwork

[ravenus]

What's the price point on JC releases versus CC releases?

[Gacivory]

Originally Posted by ravenus

What's the price point on JC releases versus CC releases?

The Criterion website features the prices of Criterion releases.

https://www.criterion.com/films/3408...does-not-exist

https://www.criterion.com/films/32441-drive-my-car

[kmhofmann]

Unfortunately, the video compression is quite pitiful on this release.

[DukeTogo84]

Just watched this for the first time and loved it, although I'm actually a bit confused on the ending. Still rather much enjoyed the film.

[BluProofie]

Still one of my favorite films of the year. This disc is excellent aside from some digital noise and artifacting that’s present on all of Hamaguchi’s films.