Love easily transcends ethics
In today's world, "dishonesty" is viewed with extreme harshness. If you accidentally say anything that seems to approve of infidelity, you will be completely punished. In this day and age, this work depicts the "strange sense of solidarity" between a man, his wife, and his mistress. Shiraki, a writer, is a popular man who behaves freely despite having a wife and children. The protagonist, Miharu, also a writer, falls in love easily. With no trace of guilt in the air, the two become passionately absorbed in each other, as if to say, "It's an affair, but so what?"
On the other hand, the faithful wife Shoko, played by Hirosue Ryoko, deserves special attention. She visits another lover who has attempted suicide due to the stress of her relationship with her husband, and without scolding her or showing any signs of triumph, she quietly leaves a bouquet of flowers and some money and leaves. When her husband introduces her to Miharu, she has a look on her face that seems to say, "Not again," but it is also one of sadness and pity. Shoko is the kind of person who sympathizes with the feelings of the women who fall in love with her husband, and who will always identify with them.
As the affair continued for years, the bond between the three deepened, almost like that of complicity. It was a form of love that is difficult for most people to understand. The final scene shows the wife and her mistress working together. To some, especially to cheated wives, this may seem grotesque. But the expressions on their faces are beaming. For the people involved, it is a noble, loving, and happy act of love. There is no need for sympathy or forgiveness from others. As long as they are satisfied with it, that is all that matters.
Directed by: Hiroki Ryuichi / Starring: Terajima Shinobu, Toyokawa Etsushi, Hirosue Ryoko and others.
