Sure to be a conversation starter and filmed with an astonishing emotional intimacy, Mistress Dispeller follows the work of a Chinese woman who practices unorthodox techniques to repair marital infidelity.
A middle-aged wife in China begins to see cracks in her long marriage as her husband pulls back on his affection. She soon discovers he’s been texting a younger woman. Coping with heartbreak, but still committed to saving her marriage, she seeks the help of Wang Zhenxi, an established “mistress dispeller,” known for bringing extramarital affairs to an end. What follows is an emotional rollercoaster and a deep meditation on relationships.
Filmmaker Elizabeth Lo gains the trust of everyone in this love triangle and with the mistress dispeller, Teacher Wang. We watch a prolonged intervention take place over the course of several months. Teacher Wang operates far outside the boundaries of conventional couples’ therapy. She fabricates scenarios in order to meet the husband and his mistress so she can understand their points of view. She’s a keen student of emotional triggers and doesn’t hesitate to employ small manipulations towards achieving the larger goal of reuniting the spouses.
The film resists judgement and makes space for candid introspection by all parties involved. It offers a nuanced perspective on the ways romantic attachment shifts through different stages of life. Some of the dynamics are unique to China, where there’s scant precedent to guide the current generation through changes in the economy, technology, and social mobility. But the film’s overarching exploration of love in all its complexity and messiness will be a conversation starter for audiences anywhere in the world.
THOM POWERS
Screenings
Scotiabank 13
Scotiabank 8
Scotiabank 7
Scotiabank 8