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ThrillerDramaRomance

The Handmaiden

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1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sookee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle Kouzuki. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until Sookee and Hideko discover some unexpected emotions.

Release Date : 2016-06-01

Language :JapaneseKorean

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Moho FilmYong FilmCJ Entertainment

Production Country : South Korea

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Kim Min-hee

Character Name : Lady Hideko

Original Name : 김민희

Gender : Female

Kim Tae-ri

Character Name : Sook-hee

Original Name : 김태리

Gender : Female

Ha Jung-woo

Character Name : Count Fujiwara

Original Name : 하정우

Gender : Male

Cho Jin-woong

Character Name : Uncle Kouzuki

Original Name : 조진웅

Gender : Male

Kim Hae-sook

Character Name : Ms. Sasaki

Original Name : 김해숙

Gender : Female

Moon So-ri

Character Name : Hideko's Aunt

Original Name : 문소리

Gender : Female

Lee Yong-nyeo

Character Name : Bok-soon

Original Name : 이용녀

Gender : Female

Kwak Eun-jin

Character Name : Kkeut-dan

Original Name : 곽은진

Gender : Female

Lee Dong-hwi

Character Name : Goo-gai

Original Name : 이동휘

Gender : Male

Jo Eun-hyung

Character Name : Young Hideko

Original Name : Jo Eun-hyung

Gender : Female

Rina Takagi

Character Name : Hideko's Mother

Original Name : 高木りな

Gender : Female

Han Ha-na

Character Name : Junko

Original Name : Han Ha-na

Gender : Male

Lee Kyu-jung

Character Name : Maid 1

Original Name : Lee Kyu-jung

Gender : Female

Kim See-eun

Character Name : Maid 2

Original Name : 김시은

Gender : Female

Ha Si-yeon

Character Name : Maid 3

Original Name : Ha Si-yeon

Gender : Female

Eun-yeong Kim

Character Name : Maid 4

Original Name : Eun-yeong Kim

Gender : Female

Jeong Ha-dam

Character Name : Maid 5

Original Name : 정하담

Gender : Female

Yoo Min-chae

Character Name : Ggeut-dan

Original Name : Yoo Min-chae

Gender : Female

Won Geun-hee

Character Name : Butler

Original Name : Won Geun-hui

Gender : Male

Kim Jong-dae

Character Name : Mansion Driver

Original Name : Kim Jong-dae

Gender : Male

Jang Han-sun

Character Name : Kouzuki Porter

Original Name : Jang Han-sun

Gender : Male

Kim Lee-woo

Character Name : Japanese Officer 1

Original Name : Kim Lee-woo

Gender : Male

Shinsuke Fujimoto

Character Name : Japanese Officer 2

Original Name : 藤本信介

Gender : Male

Katsuhiro Nagano

Character Name : Monk

Original Name : Katsuhiro Nagano

Gender : Male

Lee Ji-ha

Character Name : Female Owner of Ryokan

Original Name : 이지하

Gender : Female

Tomomitsu Adachi

Character Name : Mental Hospital Doctor 1

Original Name : 足立智充

Gender : Male

Takashi Kakizawa

Character Name : Mental Hospital Doctor 2

Original Name : 柿澤隆史

Gender : Male

Seo-Yoon Hwang

Character Name : Mental Hospital Nurse 1

Original Name : Seo-Yoon Hwang

Gender : Male

Shin-hye Park

Character Name : Mental Hospital Nurse 2

Original Name : Shin-hye Park

Gender : Male

Lee Ji-hye

Character Name : Young Hideko's Maid 1

Original Name : 이지혜

Gender : Female

So-Yeon Heo

Character Name : Young Hideko's Maid 2

Original Name : So-Yeon Heo

Gender : Male

Lee Yoon-jae

Character Name : 'The Golden Lotus' Reading Guest 1

Original Name : Lee Yoon-jae

Gender : Male

Choi Jong-ryul

Character Name : 'The Golden Lotus' Reading Guest 2

Original Name : 최종률

Gender : Male

Kim Joon-woo

Character Name : 'The Golden Lotus' Reading Guest 3

Original Name : Kim Joon-woo

Gender : Male

Bae Il-hyuck

Character Name : 'The Golden Lotus' Reading Guest 4

Original Name : Bae Il-hyuck

Gender : Male

Kim Soo-woong

Character Name : 'The Golden Lotus' Reading Guest 5

Original Name : Kim Soo-woong

Gender : Male

Yong-Hyun Jo

Character Name : 'The Golden Lotus' Reading Guest 6

Original Name : Yong-Hyun Jo

Gender : Male

Park Ki-ryung

Character Name : 'The Whip Speaks' Reading Guest 1

Original Name : Park Ki-ryung

Gender : Male

Choi Byung-mo

Character Name : 'The Whip Speaks' Reading Guest 2

Original Name : 최병모

Gender : Male

Han Chang-hyun

Character Name : 'The Whip Speaks' Reading Guest 3

Original Name : Han Chang-hyun

Gender : Male

Kim In-woo

Character Name : 'The Whip Speaks' Reading Guest 4

Original Name : 김인우

Gender : Male

Kwon Hyuk

Character Name : 'The Whip Speaks' Reading Guest 5

Original Name : Kwon Hyuk

Gender : Male

Hyung-tae Im

Character Name : 'The Whip Speaks' Reading Guest 6

Original Name : Hyung-tae Im

Gender : Male

Oh Man-seok

Character Name : 'Bells of Passion' Reading Guest 1

Original Name : 오만석

Gender : Male

Kim Byung Gi

Character Name : 'Bells of Passion' Reading Guest 2

Original Name : Kim Byung Gi

Gender : Male

In-su Kim

Character Name : 'Bells of Passion' Reading Guest 3

Original Name : In-su Kim

Gender : Male

Alexander Scarborough

Character Name : Pyeonghwa Hotel Restaurant Manager

Original Name : Alexander Scarborough

Gender : Male

Jin-Chul Kim

Character Name : Pyeonghwa Hotel Restaurant Guest 1

Original Name : Jin-Chul Kim

Gender : Male

Do-Hyung Kim

Character Name : Pyeonghwa Hotel Restaurant Guest 2

Original Name : Do-Hyung Kim

Gender : Male

Eun-ji Hong

Character Name : Pyeonghwa Hotel Restaurant Guest 3

Original Name : Eun-ji Hong

Gender : Male

Song Da-eun

Character Name : Pyeonghwa Hotel Restaurant Guest 4

Original Name : 송다은

Gender : Female

Jeong In-kyeom

Character Name : Ronin 1

Original Name : 정인겸

Gender : Male

Nam Gyeong-min

Character Name : Ronin 2

Original Name : Nam Gyeong-min

Gender : Male

Ahn Seong-bong

Character Name : Harbor Ticket Office Ronin

Original Name : 안성봉

Gender : Male

Seon Uk-hyeon

Character Name : Harbor Ticket Office Staff

Original Name : Seon Uk-hyeon

Gender : Male

Lee In-chul

Character Name : Photo Studio Owner

Original Name : Lee In-chul

Gender : Male

Reviews

R

Reno

@Rangan

2024-05-16

**In the circle of romance, deceive and defraud.** Those who are into the world cinema, particularly the Korean, knows Park Chan-wook very well. But if you don't, then you must. His films are definitely for the grown ups. Like everybody else, my admiration for his work has started a decade ago with the film 'Oldboy'. He had tried his luck in Hollywood with 'Stoker'. Despite a good entertainer, it was criticised. I love Park Chan-wook doing hundred masterpieces like this in Korea than trying to do one in Hollywood. His ability to turn the good book into a great flick was phenomenal. Here it goes another one. This was based on the British novel 'Fingersmith' by Sarah Waters. The story of an orphan woman who assigned to be a maid for a young rich woman who is living under the shadow of her uncle since she has no parents. Yeah, I was expecting it, but I did not think it would be another masterpiece from the director. I even thought the ratings could be exaggerated, and the reviews from his die hard fans like Nolan's or QT's fans does. The timeline of the story was prior to Second World War Korea under the Japan rule. A perfect setting for such theme. The film opened like it is an average film. That's where all I got wrong. Or probably I judged it too soon. The storytelling was split into three parts and the first part was a bit mix of fun and like any film, introduction, the platform for the rest of the narration filled with surprises. The young orphan Sook-hee was recruited by a thief who is planning to trick a young woman named Lady Hideko with all the wealth left behind by her parents. The only obstacle for him is her uncle, a guardian. So Sook-hee becomes close to her. More than she had expected, but their plan is working. Now they have to wait for the perfect moment for a perfect strike. When it arrives, an unexpected twist takes the tale to go back to where the film originally had started. But even further earlier and this time, the perspective of the story was from the Lady Hdeko. > ❝So even if my love for you leads me to ruin, don't pity me.❞ So, with that flashback, the second part begins. But literally it was a series of twist, that keep explaining us in another angle of the whole scenario I had witnessed in the previous part. Believe me, I have never seen such a long twist before. I was like unmoved for that entire segment. One of the best things I have ever in a film. The praise must go to the author, but the director and his actors as well did a fine job. There's a twist in every scene. So, for that one must pay close attention to the first part, despite slow moving story. But above all, what I'm surprised was I did not know it was a lesbian film. Moreover, I did not think it could have bold scenes for such theme. Everything seemed perfect. I mean the erotic parts are sensual, but very artistic than unnecessary disturbance. Mainly because of stronger hold of the story narration than anything else. Even the pace picks up, like a crazy speed. Everything about the film you would learn in this section. All the secrets of the past revealed and what might comes are still kept under mysterious for the third and final part. The most awaited, the conclusion part begins forth. For everything we saw so far, what might come after makes this film at its best. Just like the mid part, this is also full of twists. Because it will going to tell who ends where and what they get. Over two hours long film, and every frame are worth. The casting was best and so the setting of the 1930s Korea. Especially I must applaud the filmmaker's effort to turn the original setting from Europe to East Asia. It was great, but still now and then you can see the influence of the original source. I mean western culture, names, architect references which might have come from the book. Not just the lesbian or a love triangle story, but something like a circle of love with deceive and defraud. You can notice that in the film poster with four main characters. So when it has a multiple strings attached, you could expect surprises/twists from each angle and it gives that more the convincingly. Put this into your must see list. This is not the first screen adaptation, but surely the best so far. Now we can expect a European or a Hollywood project in a big scale soon. Believe me the Oscars would pour in, because it's that kind of story. Highly recommended! _8/10_

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2023-01-05

Talk about the best laid plans! This is a cracking, sexy, thriller set in Korea during the Japanese occupation of the 1930s. It centres around the charming, butter-wouldn't-melt "Sook-Hee" (Tae Ri Kim) who takes a job attending the wealthy "Lady Hideko" (Kim Min-hee). She lives on a grand estate with her cantankerous uncle "Kouzuki" (Cho Jin-woong) and is frankly rather low maintenance for her new maid. Pretty quickly, though, we begin to smell a rat! Is she what she seems, and what has the obviously duplicitous "Count" (Ha Jung-woo) got to do with things? Well gradually, we find out that there are schemes afoot to rob the lady of her fortune, her liberty - even her mind. What the plotting didn't take account for, though, was human nature. A bond gradually starts to build between the two women, a bond of friendship, of trust - of love! What happens next...? This benefits hugely from having a tightly-knit cast who work well together; a solid and intriguing story that marries the Machiavelian with the mischievous, the sexy with the sordid - and, it looks great too. The characters vacillate from being likeable, kinky, and often pretty loathsome in equal measure, but somehow there is always a sense that right will be done! I loved the ending, and the performances from the two women are engaging and captivating. Some of it isn't for the squeamish, but it flew by, is expertly crafted, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.