A Man with a Married Woman's Hairdo: A strange little time capsule

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for grainy, old-fashioned dramas where the stakes feel both tiny and massive at the same time, give it a go. But if you need a plot that moves at a breakneck speed, steer clear. This isn't exactly The Speedy Marriage in terms of pacing. It's more of a slow burn, if the fire was a flickering candle in a drafty hallway.

Jun Arai is doing some heavy lifting here. There’s a specific scene where he’s just staring at a hat, and for a solid thirty seconds, you can see the exact moment his character realizes he’s in way over his head. It’s the kind of subtle acting that makes you stop scrolling your phone and actually look at the screen. Finally.

The title is, let’s be honest, a bit of a weird hook. It sounds like something you’d find on a dusty shelf in a rental store that closed in 1998. The movie itself doesn't lean into the title as much as you'd think, which is either a brilliant subversion or just a missed opportunity. I’m leaning toward the former because I like to give it the benefit of the doubt.

Observations from the couch

• The lighting in the second act is surprisingly moody. Someone clearly knew how to use a shadow to hide a low budget.
• There is a background extra in the café scene who is clearly just waiting for his shift to end. I’ve never related to a character more.
• The dialogue feels like it was written by someone who had only ever heard people talk through a thick wooden door. It’s stiff, but it works.

It definitely lacks the polished finish of Bitter Apples, but that’s fine. It feels like a rough draft of a better movie, or maybe just a movie that didn't care about being perfect. There’s something refreshing about that. It isn't trying to change the world; it’s just trying to finish the scene without the set falling over.

I found myself thinking about Saturday's Lesson halfway through, just because of the way the characters treat each other with this strange, polite cruelty. It’s a very specific vibe. It’s not for everyone, and I’m sure some people will find it boring as all get-out. That’s probably the point.

Don't look for deep meaning here. Just watch the way the actors navigate those cramped, dusty rooms. It’s a weird little trip, and sometimes, that’s plenty. 🎞️