Mistress Dispeller
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“Who do you think is happy, and who is in pain?”
Overview
Venice-award winning documentary Mistress Dispeller focuses on the unique Chinese industry of practitioners whose job it is to end extra-marital affairs. "Teacher" Wang Zhenxi is equal parts private eye, therapist and strategist: a unique blend of skills that allows her to command a hefty fee. Wang's current clients are Mrs Li, trying to save her decades-long marriage, and (surprisingly) Mr Li, now anxious to be rid of his demanding young mistress Fei Fei. Over several months Teacher Wang unpicks the tangled threads of this love triangle, tracing the fears and needs of each member to its source and determining what they need to move forward. Elizabeth Lo (Stray) has crafted a compelling portrait of contemporary marriage, one that's both empathetic and gently humorous.
“A sharp-eyed, open-ended inquiry into marriage and romance”
“Intimate and unguarded”
“A jaw-dropping documentary about a growing phenomenon”
Why See This Film
After learning about the mainland practice of "mistress dispelling", Hong Kong/American director Elizabeth Lo was inspired by Zhang Yimou’s period film Raise the Red Lantern to explore what the premise of women competing for the affections of a patriarch might look like today. Using Teacher Wang as a guide, Lo takes us through the subtleties of a family unit in modern day China and the sacrifices made to preserve peace and order. Exquisitely framed and at times startlingly intimate, Mistress Dispeller is a fascinating glimpse into a deeply private world.
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