Story:
The story is different from anything I'd ever watched. Usually, I'm not a fan of films or dramas set in a historical-like time period, because I tend to find them boring (and yet despite this I have like 3+ dramas of this kind on my 'To Watch' list lol), but the twist in this film made it so much more interesting. A girl agreeing to go work for an heiress under the pretence of helping her, but only to accomplish a plan set by a swindler to take the heiress' money. I mean, that alone got me hooked, but the layers in the story that will be revealed are fantastic.
Cast:
Honestly, a huge kudos to all the actors in this film because they were brilliant at all of their roles. Ha Jeong Woo was a convincing swindler, and honestly the comedic element at times for me. Kim Tae Ri played out her mental battle of acting the part of an honest handmaid and plotting to betray the heiress really well. Jo Jin Woong creeped the fuck out of me. Kim Min Hee made me question my sexuality. I mean, they were all fabulous.
Music:
If you've read my other reviews you might sense a pattern here.... I do not remember the music well lol. Actually, I watched this recently so I do remember bits, but nothing particular. I remember not hating it, so a 7 it is lol.
Overall:
Doesn't start off slow. You will genuinely want to skip parts because of the creep factor (I mean you won't, but the fact that you MIGHT means it's just that great). Kim Min Hee. A def must watch.
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Plot:
A maid named Sook Hee is hired as handmaiden in an isolated estate for a Japanese heiress called Hideko. The Lady lives secluded in the estate away from the society since she was a child in company of her autocratic uncle Kouzuki.
Under the maid's veiling Sook Hee keeps inside a dark secret: she's a young crook who's been enrolled by a conman posing as a Japanese count, Fujiwara.
His plan is to steal away the heart of the young Lady, and, after robbing her of her property, lock her up in a mental hospital.
One night, curious about the charismatic Count Fujiwara, Hideko decides to ask to her maid what is it the men do search in women after marriage.
Sook Hee is reluctant but after more insistence decides to show her what passion is about, given her Lady is practically a child who didn't have the occasion to learn about said things.
Personal thoughts:
The story is really well written and combines dark setting with erotic romance with some luminous scenes framing lots of greenery and vivid panoramas.
The ambience is mostly gloomy and presents some outright scenes such as violence, torture, nudity and BDSM. (Not recommended for family watching nor for minors!)
All the main leads are interesting and well-described, in fact, the first part of the movie is dedicated to Sook Hee's point of view, second part is about Hideko's past and outlooks and the third part is an epilogue for everyone.
The three parts are made in a way to complement each other bit by bit, replenishing the empty spaces in the story.
Presents some interesting plot twists and I recommend it to psychological & mature drama enthusiasts.
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This film will not disappoint you
Inspired by the novel Fingersmith by Welsh writer Sarah Waters, The Handmaiden tells the story of a young woman entangled in a grand conspiracy after being hired as a handmaiden for an heiress. The plot was beautifully written with surprising twists. As the sneaky plan of conning an old man is being executed, two women from the opposite sides of society fell in love, causing another twist in the story.Kim Min-Hee and Kim Tae-Ri did not disappoint either. Given that the film has erotic scenes, their chemistry and skills have made their characters instantly likable. Ha Jung-Woo, delivered an astounding performance as a con man trying to swindle a Japanese old man. Props to these stars for pulling off such wonderful acting.
I am not really someone who admires cinematography a lot, but I can say that the Handmaiden is one of the few films that made me say wow within the first few minutes of watching.
I've seen a few of Park Chan-Wook's films before (Thirst, Vengeance Trilogy, Joint Security Area), but this is probably one of his best works and the best one I've watched.
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Erotic thriller with high quality plot, acting and cinematography
Beautiful, exciting and perverse, The Handmaiden (by same director as "Old Boy" - which tells you something) is not for the faint of heart. There are a few scenes that border on X-rated. It's well written, well-acted, and beautifully shot. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat. I was captivated and repulsed and thrilled by this movie all at once. But what made this movie stand out to me is the glimmer of companionship and heart that pulls the movie together. Without that it would have been just another thriller that excites and titillates.Was this review helpful to you?
Sensual, moving, gripping
Some movies in their attempt to be artistic become confusing, weirdly-paced and an overall chore to go through. Then there are productions that serve its entertainment purpose, but feel like fast-food for your brain. And just as fast-food, while you enjoy them, you don't really feel nourished in the end.The Handmaiden succeeds at blending the artistic with the popular incredibly skillfully. This movie is visually stunning, sensual and hypnotising while - at the same time - provides some of the best plot twists one could wish for.
Technically, it's pretty much flawless, with great camera work, amazing shots and editing. But in its craftsmanship it still remains full of soul and emotion, being one of my all time favourite love stories.
I respect Park Chan Wook as a director a lot. The man made some of the best movies in the history of Korean cinema. This - to me - is his best work.
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This review may contain spoilers
Last 2017 I am searching for a Korean Lesbian movie but I always overlooked this movie due to the movie poster. It was like a wife vs mistress Joseon Korean movie at the first look so I tried to watch the trailer but still I ignore because, it was too focus on the Count and Izumi. So I skipped the movie and watched some lesbian (Thai Lakorns) instead. It was 2019 and I search again for a Korean lesbian movie but The Handmaiden always popped up, so I give this movie a try and I was amazed because, of what I've expected it is giving me some vibes of Painter of the Wind (sad ending) but this one is a happy ending. While watching I observed that Sook hee has some mannerisms and personality as mine. We also have almost the same voice pitch although hers is a little bit deeper. Hideko shows the attitude of my ideal woman to be with tbh, I like women who are smart, "woman of few words" , mysterious, sexy, "rich" and a little bit older than me (Note: Is this kind of woman in real life exist?) Everything on my mind seems already on this movie because, I connect myself to the movie. So my regret is I didn't watched it on 2017 and I just watched it on April 2019. Was this review helpful to you?
I thought I liked it, and I don't hate it, but like what did I just witness?
First of all, this movie had me experiencing whiplash at least 2 to 3 different times. It strangely feels like I went through some type of trauma even watching the movie in its entirety. And yet it really was nearly perfect.I think the only thing I would have to reprimand it for is the fact it probably did not need to be almost 2 and a half hours. Just when you thought everything was over and wrapped up, they really said but wait there's more.
I would say if you're curious about this movie, know that it is dark (trigger warnings for attempted rape and extreme violence), it is gritty, and you might be confused for at least part of it. However, everything slowly starts making sense and you'll be able to get a better grasp on what's happening from there.
As for the ending, regarding the grandfather, uncle.. whoever the fuck he was...I did not expect him to be that much of a psychopath. It really took me aback. And as for what's his name, even with him being an attempted rapist, a liar, a con artist, and a weirdo, I still thought his ending was a bit extreme. But to each his or her own.
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experiência SURREAL
uau, apenas uau.esse filme tava na minha lista há anos, e eu continuava adiando, até que finalmente tive a oportunidade de assistir como queria.
acho que descobri a verdadeira definição de "absolute cinema", que experiência incrível.
não sou de ver filmes, é algo raro pra mim, sou mais das séries, mas nesse caso me senti preso do começo ao fim, mal vi o tempo passar por total e completa imersão.
plot atrás de plot, a cada ato eu ficava mais boquiaberto, achando que o vilão era um e no final era uma pessoa que nem tinha notado tanto no começo, e, CARALHO, que vilão, o absoluto DESGOSTO que essa construção de personagem traz, chega a ser até meio incompreensível, precisei de um tempo pra raciocinar depois do lore drop, e na cena da árvore também foi tudo tão chocante, que filme incrível aaaaaaaaaaaa.*
em questão de elenco, não tinha familiaridade com ninguém além da kim taeri, então foi uma surpresa e uma introdução muito agradável a todos esses grandes talentos, principalmente a kim minhee, tô vidrado na atuação e micro expressões dela como hideko, simplesmente sensacional, taeri não fica pra trás, na cena da biblioteca arrepiei todo, o absoluto ódio e rancor que ela sentiu pelo que a hideko teve que passar foi palpável.
menção honrosa também aos roteiristas que proporcionaram esses diálogos absurdos de bons, trouxeram desde risadas até puro nojo.
trilha sonora sútil porém extremamente necessária, complementou divinamente a ambientação, ambientação essa que poderia facilmente me enganar se passando por um filme realmente gravado na década de 30, impecável.
the handmaiden foi, definitivamente, minha melhor watch do ano, além de definitivamente ter entrado pra minha lista pessoal de favoritos atemporais, que experiência incrível.
*edit 1609
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Not for Square People
First of all, the plot twist was crazy. I really loved it. The acting was great, and the cast performed very well. Kim Tae Ri looked so pretty, and the film looked pretty realistic and raw, and that's something I absolutely loved. Everything was good except the erotica. I just jumped out of my seat when I first watched it, plus it weirded me out. I don't know why they added so much intensity to this film; it just looked extra. Not even needed.Probably added more scenes of Count about how good of a conman he is, Kim Tae Ri's past, or the Uncle's past, but nah, Lesbian Love was added. I am just not comfortable watching that kind of thing on screen.
The Handmaiden is a cinematic movie, probably a blockbuster movie if launched today, but not my cup of tea. The fetish and erotica are probably for coomers, not for normal people who watch movies for plot, characters, story, and acting.
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I'd only say that it is a con-story set in Korean during the Japanese occupation and that you should be prepared for adult content, but that this film is much more than that. Indeed, it has the right mix of mistery, humor, erotism and romance, all with a gallery of weird characters and breath-taking sets, costumes and photography.
My only criticism would go to the explicit sex scenes, beautifully staged and filmed, but that feel a bit exploitative toward the actresses, especially because one of the characters is precisely trying to escape an exploitation situation... In my opinion, the film would be equally interesting without such explicity.
But all in all, it's an outstanding film!
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An art masterpiece
This film blew me away. It is very rare to find movies, and even novels for that matter, where the sex scenes were accurate, realistic, and is part of the story. Most of the time when sex is incorporated into movies, it was dead and porn and won't make a difference if removed--in other words, just there as a filler. In "The Handmaiden" it's the total opposite. It was an art. It was about building relationships and how it should be valued and respected by the couple.The two lead females--Kim Tae Ri and Kim Min Hee--showed how they mastered their craft in acting in this film. From their facial expressions to their emotions and to their actions. I would not be surprised at all if the spark they showed in this movie was actually real. While there were a few scenes Kim Tae Ri felt uncomfortable … which was showing on her face and movements … she quickly relaxed. It was evident that Kim Min Hee helped Tae Ri overcome her uneasiness, they did prepare for this.
From what I understand, this was an adaptation of an English/British novel. That said, I am praising the director and writer, Park Chan Wook, in picking the perfect era in Korea for the adaptation. It could have been set in the modern era or in an even distant past but the impact would have been far less because of the distraction the other eras would bring into the scenes. It also flawlessly opened up a lot of their settings which made the plot deeper and resonate with the audience.
I also liked how they naturally switched between Korean and Japanese. In most movies where there are other nationalities involved, shortcuts are always made by making everyone speak the same language after establishing a character's "foreign"-ness. I frown on such shortcuts and I am glad I did not see it in "The Handmaiden". I was also amazed how the characters mixed the two languages to form one sentence, the way bilinguals actually speak in real life. Great addition to this little detail but equally important in building up the film.
I hope everyone who will watch (and watched) this film will see the deeper message of this film instead of focusing only on the obvious ones. Look beyond the surface and you'll see the important reminder and lesson behind "The Handmaiden". What is it? Better watch it. If you've seen the movie, watch it again and look for it.
10 over 10 in all categories for me. Congratulations!
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The erotic vibes are heavy. Perhaps a bit cliche but served their purpose. One thing I found fasinating is how the the story was able to be protrected through these acts. Anything more will be spoilers.
Kim Tae-ri continues to impress with every performance. Hopefully that leads to stardom. Cho Jin-woong was wonderfully eccentric, making the perverted Uncle role his own. The subtle movements, the eyes,. The acting all round is up to par.
I'm intriuged by the rewatch value this has. I may need to watch the directors cut. That's a first.
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