For Kevin Haefelin‘s latest creative endeavor, he brings viewers to feudal Japan in a very short but funny ghost story with “Third Wheel.” Having already directed a variety of shorts ranging from serious to comical, Haefelin takes the sensitive topic of the death of a loved one and puts his own playful spin on the Japanese connection with the supernatural. Shot in Kyoto, Japan, with a script written by Hikari Onodera, the versatile director brings his idea to life through a production conducted with Shochiku.
Our short tale is set in feudal Japan, in a Kyoto town. Gohei, a master carpenter, dies suddenly, leaving behind his wife, Sachi. Now, he roams as a ghost and wishes to make peace with his grief-stricken spouse. To make this possible, he turns to his once-neglected apprentice Sakichi, who has psychic abilities.
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To give Kevin Haefelin and the team credit, they make the best of this premise, even with its fleeting duration. Besides being technically impressive, the biggest strength of “Third Wheel” is how it humorously plays around with anticipation in its storytelling. Losing a loved one is heartbreaking, and the short implements effective dark humor in what is the revealed cause of Gohei’s death. Additionally, the humor that transpires when the late carpenter takes to his psychic apprentice Sakichi also works well, particularly because it plays out differently than one may anticipate. Furthermore, how the title “Third Wheel” is tied into the short is also humorous.
Yoshihiko Bito, Amane Kimura, and Keigo Matsutani work well with their material in their respective roles. Bito is particularly good with his varied reactions to the situation as a spirit looking to reconcile with the wife he left behind. On the production side, the costumes and sets are all nice. Kevin Haefelin has expressed fondness for filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu, and that’s ever-present in how the short is shot. Arif Kahn’s cinematography is consistently impressive here. Lastly, Yuichiro Oku’s music score appropriately fits the period.
Running just five minutes, “Third Wheel” offers the right amount of amusement to make it a worthwhile viewing. It has fun with its premise while delivering impressive production values, especially considering the budget. For how brief it is, viewers still have a well-made, fun, comedic ghost story.
