Wife of a Spy is a Japanese historical drama film directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. The film is set in 1940, during the early days of Japan's entry into World War II. Satoko and her husband Yusaku own a successful fabric store in Kobe, Japan. Yusaku is highly respected in the community and is expected to support Japan's war efforts. However, Satoko begins to suspect that Yusaku is involved in some sort of suspicious activity. She becomes more concerned when Yusaku suddenly goes on a business trip to Manchuria without informing her.
Satoko's suspicions are confirmed when a childhood friend, Taiji, visits and tells her about evidence he uncovered that implicates Yusaku in a secret mission for the Japanese government. Taiji and Satoko decide to investigate further, and they eventually discover that Yusaku is working with a group of Japanese nationalists who are plotting to overthrow the government and establish a new regime.
As Satoko and Taiji continue their investigation, they become more and more enmeshed in the dangerous world of espionage. Satoko must navigate a web of deceit and betrayal as she attempts to protect her husband and her family while also uncovering the truth about his activities. In the end, Satoko must decide where her loyalties lie and what she is willing to do to protect the ones she loves.
The film stars YÅ« Aoi as Satoko, Issey Takahashi as Yusaku, and Masahiro Higashide as Taiji. Wife of a Spy premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2020 and was released in Japan in October of the same year. The film was generally well received by critics and praised for its strong performances and nuanced exploration of a complex historical period.
