The newest film by Chan-wook Park, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance, is The Handmaiden starring Min-hee Kim, Jung-woo Ha, and Tae-ri Kim. It’s a film that will not sit well with everyone as there are a few graphic sex scenes, but the story, cinematography, and acting are incredible.
The Handmaiden is an engaging story and beautiful film
Sook-hee (Tae-ri Kim) is hired to be a handmaiden to Lady Hideko (Min-hee Kim), a Japanese heiress. However, Sook-hee was recruited by Count Fujiwara (Jung-woo Ha) to help the count win Hideko’s hand and inherit her fortune. This ruse is set up right at the beginning of the film, but Sook-hee clearly begins to love Hideko.
It’s hard to go into any more details as the way the story unfolds is so compelling that spoiling it would be a tragedy. Everything isn’t exactly what it seems in this film though and the way Seo-kyeong Jeong and Chan-wook Park tell the story is unbelievably exciting to watch. The humanity in the film is also compelling as a film that deals with some dark topics manages to have some hilarious moments.
In some ways, it seems the film is discussing the treatment of women in Asian culture. The topic of love is approached in a beautiful way and again, details could spoil major moments in the film so that’s all that can be said. However, the visuals are gorgeous and really lend to great storytelling. There is a cherry tree that is referred to early in the film, shown in more detail in the middle, and extensively more significant later. It’s a beautiful tree full of blossoms, but is juxtaposed with a horrific image and later a moment of true love and humor.
Final Thoughts
The Handmaiden is a fantastic film full of colorful sets, beautiful landscapes, and some disturbing imagery. The cast is great and really sells every emotional beat that is hit. The film is long, but the time flies by as the story unfolds in epic fashion. If subtitles and nudity don’t bother you, then the Handmaiden is a Must See film.
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