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Poster for Wife of a Spy

Wife of a Spy

Seen it?

2020 | 114 min | Drama, War, Thriller

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (89% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and history buffs. If you loved Operation Mincemeat or Casablanca, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Tense, intense.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 54 min.
What might put you off
  • It's in Japanese, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

It’s 1940, and the population of Japan is divided over its entry into World War II. Satoko, the wife of a fabric merchant, is devoted to her husband but is beginning to suspect he’s up to something. Soon she allows herself to be drawn into a game in which she enigmatically conceals her intentions.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    89% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    6.7 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    Won 1 Venice award: 77th Venice International Film Festival: Silver Lion. Plus 3 other awards.

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 31K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa

  • Yu AoiSatoko Fukuhara
  • Issey TakahashiYūsaku Fukuhara
  • Masahiro HigashideYasuharu Tsumori
  • Ryota BandoFumio Takeshita
  • Yuri TsunematsuKomako
  • HyunriHiroko Kusakabe
  • Takashi SasanoDoctor Nozaki
  • Sakichi SatoStreet vendor
  • Chuck JohnsonBob
  • Maki Nishiyama