Hong Kong—The 48th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF48) proudly presents the Asian premiere of GIFT, the latest collaboration between Academy Award winner Hamaguchi Ryusuke and composer Ishibashi Eiko.
Experience GIFT with Ishibashi’s live music accompaniment at a single performance at Hong Kong City Hall on March 30.
Image Courtesy of Hong Kong International Film Festival.
Following the success of Drive My Car, Hamaguchi initially conceived GIFT as a silent film project to complement Ishibashi’s captivating live performance. Derived from the same project, the Japanese auteur crafted Evil Does Not Exist, which clinched the Grand Jury Prize at last year’s Venice International Film Festival. Both ecopolitical thrillers share a similar narrative, revolving around a man and his daughter whose tranquil rural lives face disruption due to the construction of a glamping site.
Image Courtesy of Hong Kong International Film Festival.
As the composed and wordless counterpart to Evil Does Not Exist, GIFT offers an alternative perspective by employing the same footage and scenario, resulting in a distinctly different cinematic experience. Ishibashi’s mesmerizing live score heightens viewers’ emotional connection and contemplation of the clash between humanity and nature, as well as the dichotomy of good and evil.
HKIFF48 will run from March 28 to April 8, spanning 12 days. The festival’s complete program will be announced in March.