New Isao film tale of divorce and death

It is often said some husbands are predisposed to being unable to appreciate their overly doting spouse ― that is until they’re left hanging through divorce or death.

It is a case of both in writer-director Isao Yukisada’s latest melodrama, “A Good Husband.” 

This time around, Isao, the creator of such popular tearjerkers as “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World” and “Parade” places his microscope on the dissolution of a marriage between a devoted wife and her philandering husband, who is still clinging on to his swinging bachelor days.

This is kitchen-sink drama similar in tone to a Mike Leigh film, only not as cynical in its depiction of everyday life.

The film, while overly long, is for the most part, an honest, hard-hitting portrayal of a man lumbering day by day in a state of arrested development, thoroughly resigned with the kind of humdrum life he never imagined himself having.

Isao is clearly taking aim at men who are unable to keep their trousers on and take advantage of the good nature of the prototypical Japanese housewife.

The husband, Shunsuke Kitami (Etsushi Toyokawa), has dyed blond hair, walks around in flip flops, wears loud, flamboyant shirts, lounges around the house and practically does nothing all day, living off his notoriety as one of Japan’s most sought after celebrity photographers.

Now, he is just a lazy slob whose only activity of interest is to coerce young, up and coming starlets to sleep with him in return for photographing them free of charge and make random visits to a previous mistress who lives around the corner.

On the surface, it is baffling why anyone would subject themselves to such a despicable man and the film never attempts to justify his behavior.