Desperate to save her marriage, a woman in China hires a professional to go undercover and break up her husband’s affair.
Teacher Wang is a ‘mistress dispeller’ – a profession devoted to helping couples in the face of infidelity. With strikingly intimate access, this film unveils family stories usually hidden behind closed doors, exploring how emotion, pragmatism and cultural norms shape new romantic relationships in contemporary China.
Festivals & Awards
2024 Venice Film Festival – Best Director Under 40 & NETPAC Awards
2024 Toronto International Film Festival – TIFF Docs
2024 Camden International Film Festival – Harrell Award Special Mention
Zurich Film Festival 2024 – Documentary Competition
35th New Orleans Film Festival – Best Documentary Feature Award
2024 New Hampshire Film Festival – Documentary Grand Jury Award
60th Chicago International Film Festival 2024 – Gold Hugo Award for Best Documentary
Philadelphia Film Festival 2024 – Stranger Than Fiction Film Award Honorable Mention
34rd Message to Man Festival 2024 – Panorama.doc
El Gouna Film Festival 2024 – Feature Documentary
Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival 2024 – Critic’s Choice Grand Jury Special Mention
Doc Nyc 2024 – Official Selection
Denver Film Festival 2024 – Maysles Brothers Award for Best Documentary
QCinema International Film Festival 2024 – Asian Next Wave Best Director
Cinema Eye Honors 2025 – Nominee for Best Direction, Best Production, Best Cinematography
32nd EnergaCamerimage International Film Festival – Golden Frog for Best Feature Documentary
22nd Calgary Underground Film Festival – Honourable Mention
Press
Susan Norget - [email protected]
“A spellbindingly intimate tale. Lo’s latest work solidifies that she’s one of the most exciting new voices in documentary.”
– Pat Mullen, POV MAGAZINE
“A feat of intelligent, emotional filmmaking, ‘Mistress Dispeller’ is one of the most compelling films of the year so far, fictional or non-fictional.”
– Dan Bayer, NEXT BEST PICTURE
“A [Biennale] standout.”
– Fionnuala Halligan, SCREEN INTERNATIONAL
“The ultimate ‘how did they shoot that?’ film of the fest.”
– Pat Mullen, POV MAGAZINE
“Extraordinary for both the candor of the subjects and the film’s exceptional fly-on-the-wall setup.”
– John Frater, VARIETY
“Gripping and fascinatingly conceived… Lo’s level of access is extraordinary…This level of intimacy and access is rare in any nonfiction film, guiding ‘Mistress Dispeller’ toward a profound and searching panorama of loneliness and partnership, where everyone gets a chance to be heard.”
– Ryan Lattanzio, INDIEWIRE
“Elegantly haunting and strangely romantic… Lo’s triumph with ‘Mistress Dispeller,’ showing us that as far apart as our customs and cultures might be, the people that dwell in their margins are astonishingly alike…Mistress Dispeller’ culminates in a beautiful final act, as everyone — the audience included — walks away with something rewarding and reflective.”
– Tomris Laffly, VARIETY
“[A] fascinating documentary… A riveting exploration of a relationship on the brink… A remarkably vulnerable film… What Lo has captured in Mistress Dispeller is astonishing.”
– Barry Levitt, THE DAILY BEAST
