HYPERTEXT WONDERLAND

I can't help but stay intrigued by  Ryusuke Hamaguchi's filmmaking. He broke through in a big way with the release of Drive My Car back in 2021, but before that was quietly crafting his style, shifting between Rohmer-esque Happy Hour and much more achingly bittersweet Asako I & II. His work evades convention in the sense that it seems primed for multiple genres, as further seen in the playful comedy that is Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy. Watching Evil Does Not Exist this week, I felt that same thrill of discovery again, seeing Hamaguchi once again shift gears, this time toward what can only really be described as cryptic eco-drama (a rare genre indeed).  The film is set in the fictional village of Mizubiki, a place located in the hauntingly beautiful mountains of Nagano. It follows Takumi, a widower who does odd jobs for the local businesses while raising his daughter, Hana. When a talent agency proposes building a glamping site, the townsfolk rally with objections, argui...