Movies about World War II usually follow a pretty predictable script. You’ve got the soldiers in the mud, the generals in smoke-filled rooms, and maybe a daring escape or two. But Wife of a Spy, directed by the legendary Kiyoshi Kurosawa, takes that familiar setup and basically flips it on its head. It isn't a war movie in the traditional sense. It’s a domestic thriller wrapped in a political nightmare. It’s about trust—or the complete lack of it—between two people who share a bed but might not share a reality.
The film dropped in 2020, winning the Silver Lion at Venice, and honestly, it’s one of the most tense things you’ll ever watch. Set in 1940s Kobe, Japan, we meet Satoko and Yusaku. They live a comfortable, westernized life. Yusaku is a merchant; Satoko is his devoted wife. But when Yusaku returns from a business trip to Manchuria acting all twitchy and secretive, Satoko starts to wonder if she’s actually the wife of a spy.
It’s a slow burn. Really slow. But when it pops, it’s devastating.
The Brutal Reality Behind the Fiction
Kurosawa didn't just pull this plot out of thin air. While the characters of Satoko and Yusaku are fictional, the backdrop is painfully real. The "secret" Yusaku discovers in Manchuria involves the infamous Unit 731.
If you aren't familiar with Unit 731, it was a covert biological and chemical warfare research and development unit of the Imperial Japanese Army. They did things that are honestly too horrific to describe in detail—human experimentation, vivisections without anesthesia, testing plague-infested fleas on civilian populations. For decades, this was a massive taboo in Japanese history. Even now, it’s a sensitive topic.
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By centering the plot of Wife of a Spy on a civilian discovering these atrocities, Kurosawa forces the audience to confront a national trauma through a keyhole. You’re seeing it through Satoko’s eyes. She doesn't care about geopolitics at first. She just wants her husband back. But as she realizes what he’s seen, her loyalty shifts from her country to her conscience. Or does it? That’s the brilliance of the script, co-written by Ryusuke Hamaguchi (the guy who did Drive My Car).
Why the Aesthetic Feels So Unsettling
One thing you’ll notice immediately is that the movie looks... weird. Not bad, just different. Kurosawa shot this using 8K digital video but kept the lighting and acting style reminiscent of 1940s cinema. It creates this strange, "uncanny valley" effect. It feels like you’re watching a play, but the high-definition clarity makes the sweat on the actors' faces feel uncomfortably present.
The costumes are impeccable. Satoko wears these stunning, vibrant western-style dresses that look completely out of place in a Japan that was increasingly demanding austerity and "patriotic" drabness. Her clothes are a form of rebellion. They signal that she and her husband are outsiders in their own city.
Performance Breakdown: Yu Aoi and Issey Takahashi
Yu Aoi, who plays Satoko, is the heart of the film. She starts off appearing almost flighty. You might even think she’s a bit naive. But as the plot tightens, her performance shifts. She becomes steely. There’s a scene where she confronts a military policeman—played by Masahiro Higashide—where the tension is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
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Issey Takahashi plays Yusaku with this infuriatingly calm demeanor. You never quite know if he’s a hero or just a guy who likes playing games. He treats his wife like a child for half the movie, which makes her eventual "awakening" all the more powerful.
The Themes That Keep People Arguing
Is Wife of a Spy a movie about betrayal? Or is it about the ultimate form of love?
- Nationalism vs. Morality: The film asks if you can love your country while hating what its government does.
- The Performance of Marriage: Half the time, the couple is literally filming home movies. They are acting for each other.
- The Cost of Truth: Once you know the secret, you can't go back. Satoko’s life is effectively over the second she looks at those documents from Manchuria.
There’s a lot of debate about the ending. Without spoiling the specifics, let's just say it leaves you questioning who the "spy" actually was. Was it Yusaku? Or was Satoko the one who truly mastered the art of deception? Kurosawa loves to leave these threads hanging. He doesn't give you a neat little bow.
Modern Relevance and Why You Should Care
You might think a period piece about 1940s Japan is a bit niche. It’s not. In an era of "fake news" and shifting political allegiances, the core of Wife of a Spy feels incredibly modern. It’s about the struggle to find truth when the state is actively trying to suppress it.
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It also challenges the "strongman" narrative. Yusaku thinks he’s the one in control, the one making the big moves. But the movie is titled Wife of a Spy for a reason. It’s her journey. Her radicalization. Her tragedy.
Most critics, like those at Sight & Sound or The New York Times, have pointed out that the film works because it stays small. It doesn't try to show the whole war. It stays in the house. It stays in the dark offices. It stays in the whispers.
How to Actually Watch and Appreciate It
If you’re going to sit down with this movie, don't expect a James Bond flick. There are no car chases. No gadgets. It’s a psychological chess match.
- Watch the background: Kurosawa is a master of "space." Pay attention to what’s happening in the shadows or through the windows.
- Context is key: Read up briefly on the "Manchukuo" period. Knowing why Japan was in China at the time makes the stakes much clearer.
- Check the sound: The score is subtle, but it builds dread in a way that’s almost subterranean.
Honestly, the film is a masterclass in how to make a big-budget-feeling story on a modest scale. It’s intimate. It’s scary. It’s deeply human.
Actionable Next Steps for Cinema Fans
To get the most out of your experience with this specific genre of Japanese thriller, here is what you should do next:
- Watch 'Cure' (1997): If you liked the vibe of Wife of a Spy, you need to see Kurosawa’s breakout horror-thriller. It’s arguably his masterpiece and explains his obsession with psychological manipulation.
- Compare with 'Lust, Caution': For a different take on wartime espionage and marriage, Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution makes for a perfect double feature. It’s much more explicit but hits similar themes of performance and betrayal.
- Research the 8K Technicality: Look into the interviews with cinematographer Tatsumi Yuyuki. Understanding why they chose that specific digital look will change how you perceive the "flatness" of the images.
- Identify the "Gaslighting": On a second watch, track the moments Yusaku lies to Satoko "for her own good." It changes the movie from a thriller into a scathing critique of patriarchal protection.
The film is currently available on various boutique streaming services like MUBI or for digital rental. Don't skip the subtitles—the nuances in how characters address each other (using formal vs. informal Japanese) tell you everything you need to know about the shifting power dynamics in their marriage.