影片由三个短片构成——《魔法（比魔法更不真切）》《开着的门》《再来一次》。女性角色的多重性和镜像性是滨口之前的作品中的主题，在他的新作《偶然与想象》中也是如此。前作《欢乐时光》和《夜以继日》，从字面上看，颇有小说的味道，而《偶然与想象》则可以说是一部短篇小说集。叙事节奏 更强化了这一印象：三集，每集围绕一个女性角色展开，又分为三幕。三个短片讲述了一个意想不到的三角恋、一场未遂的诱惑和一个因误会而相遇的故事。尽管零散，但仍保持了有机的叙事流程，甚至还强调了这一点。虽然大部分的动作都发生在一个空间里，而且只有两个演员参与，这部电影却不让人觉得像一出室内剧。这不仅仅是由于对话的缘故，还在于其复杂的时空概念，最后一集几乎变成了科幻片。我们所见证的时刻都与感人的普遍命运相连，以选择、遗憾、欺骗和巧合为标志，它们是影片真正的主角。

Nanjo Mikisaburo is a young samurai trying to restore his ruined family to its past glory. Enduring the contempt and disdain of high-ranking samurai, Mikisaburo devotes himself to the way of the warrior, mastering the literary and martial arts. His master Kurahashi Jupeita's daughter Misao feels for Mikisahuro who maintains his pride in the face of the arrogant samurai's scorn. She sympathizes with and encourages him. However this sympathy ignites a passionate love for her in Mikisaburo. One day Mikisaburo's mother is walking along the road. Hayami Genzaburo, the son of a chief retainer, and his escorts are galloping on horseback. Genzaburo's horse kicks Mikisaburo's mother and she dies. Next, Mikisaburo returns home to find that his sister has been violated by Genzaburo. Finally, the object of Mikisaburo's love, Misao, becomes Genzaburo's wife. His mother, his sister, and finally Misao. Mikisaburo's young blood boils and flows backwards.

恪守“婚前纯洁论”的模范好男人郑贤心地善良，甚至有点傻得可爱。就是这样的他遇到了死了都向往绚丽生活的性感女鬼秀雅。难道真要和女鬼谈上一场罗曼史吗？平凡至极的郑贤在女鬼的调教下居然变身为风流倜傥的花花公子……

为了能让妻子去韩国打工，出租车司机久南（河正宇 Jeong-woo Ha 饰）不惜借6万块钱的巨款。妻子已经有六个月没有消息了，久南每日只能用酒精和赌博来麻醉自己的神经。一天，在债主的介绍下，久南认识了绵先生。绵先生不仅愿意帮助他偷渡到韩国寻找妻子，而且愿意为他还掉所有 的债务，条件是让他在首尔杀一个人。几经波折，久南最终渡过茫茫黄海到达首尔，然而要杀死被严密保护的对象并不那么容易，久南一边开始周密的计划，一边开始到处打听妻子的下落。妻子就像从人间消失了一样音讯全无，而并没有杀人的久南却因出现在凶案现场而成为警方通缉的疑犯。此时，由于怕买凶杀人的事情暴露，从延边赶来的绵先生也极力致久南于死地，久南几乎陷入绝望的境地……河政宇凭借此片获得第47届百想艺术大赏颁奖礼最佳男演员奖。