Wife of a Spy (2020)

 ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Wife of a Spy (2020) – K. Kurosawa

Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa may be best known for his J-Horror films (such as Cure, 1997, or Pulse, 2001) but he has also won the Un Certain Regard jury prize at Cannes for Tokyo Sonata, 2008 (still on my watchlist).  Here, in his first period film, he brings us back to World War II circa 1940. The “spy” in question (played by Issey Takahashi) is an upper-class businessman who dabbles in film-making – after visiting Manchuria (controlled by the invading Japanese army), he returns passionately devoted to exposing the biological warfare being practiced by his own country’s troops there. (I can’t think of too many other Japanese films that highlight civilian opposition to the country’s wartime aggression and human rights abuses right now).  His wife (played by Yû Aoi) is kept mostly in the dark but becomes suspicious, thinking perhaps that her husband is having an affair.  Her investigations ultimately bring them closer together. Although the advertising for the film calls it Hitchcockian, I would say that, despite any twists or suspense, the film veers closer to a romantic melodrama. For example, I was reminded of Mikio Naruse’s Floating Clouds (Ukigumo, 1955) which also takes place in wartime (perhaps it is the period hairstyles and clothes). However, in that film, the love affair involves a married man who won’t leave his wife, thus leaving Hideko Takamine stranded. Here instead, the husband is faithful and thoughtful and, although they are up against the Japanese government and therefore potentially doomed, his love shines through.  An engaging film of muted intensity.