Imagine discovering your spouse is being unfaithful – what would you do? For a woman in China dealing with this situation, one option could be hiring a “mistress dispeller,” essentially a marriage counselor who uses unusual methods of guidance and subtle manipulation to encourage an unfaithful man to end the affair and recommit to his relationship—a "do whatever it takes" approach. While some might consider these techniques questionable or even unethical, if they offer helpful advice and potentially salvage what seemed like a stable partnership, should they be dismissed without consideration? This is one of the central questions explored in writer-director Elizabeth Lo’s surprisingly personal documentary. When Mrs. Li begins to suspect her husband, Mr. Li, is having an affair, she's initially shocked, hurt, and understandably angry. She believes their marriage is over, but perhaps not entirely. After her brother suggests consulting Wang Zhenxi, a professional mistress dispeller, Mrs. Li decides to give it a try. Working with both spouses, and eventually the other woman, Fei Fei, "Teacher Wang" guides them toward understanding the feelings driving their actions. Her work incorporates psychology, cultural expectations, and a sense of isolation that affects many couples in modern China. The film widens the perspective on what leads to infidelity among Chinese adults, and the dispeller’s counseling aims to help couples preserve their relationships while also making those involved with married individuals aware that such involvement often leads to heartbreak. Is that necessarily a negative outcome? Viewers may have differing opinions about these methods, but it's important to remember that this film offers a glimpse into a culture with different values than what’s typically seen in the West. A larger question arises regarding the ethics of making this film. Some might view it as an invasion of privacy and potentially exploitative. However, the filmmaker emphasizes that everyone involved gave their full consent (though that may seem hard to believe at times, given the impression that events were scripted). Even with this assurance, some viewers might still find the experience voyeuristic, like rubbernecking at a car accident. Yet, considering the genuine and heartfelt emotions expressed by Mr. and Mrs. Li and Fei Fei, their experiences could offer guidance to couples struggling to save their marriages. Is there value in such openness? While the film contains dramatic moments, it also includes lighter touches, particularly through an intentionally cheesy operatic score. Some viewers may find “Mistress Dispeller” awkward, while others might see it as admirable and inspiring—a testament to preserving something valuable from falling apart.

Source on TMDB