Mistress Dispeller

Play trailer

Mistress Dispeller

Now Playing

1h 34m

Documentary

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

Popcornmeter

0 Verified Ratings

In China, a new industry has emerged devoted to helping couples stay married in the face of infidelity. Wang Zhenxi is part of this growing profession, a "mistress dispeller" who is hired to maintain the bonds of marriage -- and break up affairs -- by any means necessary. Offering strikingly intimate access to private dramas usually hidden behind closed doors, Mistress Dispeller follows a real, unfolding case of infidelity as Teacher Wang attempts to bring a couple back from the edge of crisis. Their story shifts our sympathies between husband, wife and mistress to explore the ways emotion, pragmatism and cultural norms collide to shape romantic relationships in contemporary China.

Now in Theaters

Now Playing

Buy Tickets

Ross McIndoe

Slant Magazine

The film is sensitively attuned to how people’s feelings are shaped by cultural norms.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 18, 2025

Full Review

Leslie Felperin

Guardian

It’s easy to imagine that this could be turned into a streamer series, but as a stand-alone documentary about normal lives and the gossip around them, it’s just right.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 19, 2025

Full Review

Namrata Joshi

The New Indian Express

Mistress Dispeller is a bittersweet take on bittersweet feelings that is also a fascinating showcase of the familial, cultural and societal rules and rituals in China.

May 14, 2025

Full Review

Devan Suber

The Film Stage

Because the filmmakers need to protect the privacy of those involved, there’s simply not much we can glean about the subjects’ personalities or histories, leaving them to come across like ciphers.

Oct 20, 2025

Full Review

Dave Giannini

Geek Vibes Nation

Mistress Dispeller manages to draw in its audience, even without the standard practice of breathtaking reveals or high levels of emotionality.

Rated: 8/10

Oct 20, 2025

Full Review

Avi Offer

NYC Movie Guru

A fascinating and eye-opening documentary.

Oct 20, 2025

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Elizabeth Lo

Director

Elizabeth Lo

Writer

Charlotte Munch Bengtsen

Writer

Elizabeth Lo

Producer

Maggie Li

Producer

Emma D. Miller

Producer

No Other Land

100%

100%

No Other Land

Watchlist

Life After

100%

%

Life After

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Life After

I Know Catherine, the Log Lady

100%

%

I Know Catherine, the Log Lady

Watchlist

TRAILER

for I Know Catherine, the Log Lady

Paint Me a Road Out of Here

%

%

Paint Me a Road Out of Here

Watchlist

Time Passages

%

%

Time Passages

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

In China, a new industry has emerged devoted to helping couples stay married in the face of infidelity. Wang Zhenxi is part of this growing profession, a "mistress dispeller" who is hired to maintain the bonds of marriage -- and break up affairs -- by any means necessary. Offering strikingly intimate access to private dramas usually hidden behind closed doors, Mistress Dispeller follows a real, unfolding case of infidelity as Teacher Wang attempts to bring a couple back from the edge of crisis. Their story shifts our sympathies between husband, wife and mistress to explore the ways emotion, pragmatism and cultural norms collide to shape romantic relationships in contemporary China.

Director: Elizabeth Lo
Producer: Elizabeth Lo, Maggie Li, Emma D. Miller
Screenwriter: Elizabeth Lo, Charlotte Munch Bengtsen, Charlotte Munch Bengtsen, Elizabeth Lo
Distributor: Oscilloscope Laboratories
Production Co: Marcona Media, After Argos Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 2025, Limited
Runtime: 1h 34m