The Wife and Her House Husband

Cassie (Laura Bayston) and Matt (Laurence Spellman) are heading for divorce meeting lawyers to discuss the terms, there’s clearly a deep level of antagonism. As the film plays out, through a letter from their past selves that suggests guidance in the event of a separation, so the relationship is opened for the viewer. It becomes a complex character study that pitches ambition and responsibility.

Cassie is successful as the higher earner returned to work, after the birth of their child, with Matt taking the responsibilities of the house and Alfie. However tragedy hits the family and it’s something that neither Cassie or Matt seems to have dealt or close to coming to terms with.

What also unravels is the resentment of Matt having to put his teaching career on hold and Cassie’s string of affairs and alcohol problem. Matt is no innocent having had a longer-term affair rather than Cassie’s succession of lovers. As the pair converse the problems resurface though with one common factor all the way through.

Written and directed by Marcus Markou, The Wife and the House Husband is incredibly wordy with plenty of ping-pong dialogue between the characters. The effect is to give the film a very stagey aspect with exaggerated mannerisms, one that keeps the audience at a distance, as if prying into a very private affair.

That’s not to take anything away from Spellman and Bayston who are both excellent just that at times the film disengages from the audience so empathy with the pair is lost. Another element is the soundtrack that is incredibly intrusive to the point that is begins to distract from the film and actors.

The Wife and Her House Husband will be released with the short film Two Strangers Who Meet Five Times in UK cinemas from 10 March 2023.