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The Handmaiden

Play trailer 1:04 Poster for The Handmaiden 2016 2h 24m Mystery & Thriller Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 226 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
With help from an orphaned pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri), a Korean con man (Ha Jung-woo) devises an elaborate plot to seduce and bilk a Japanese woman (Kim Min-hee) out of her inheritance.
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The Handmaiden

The Handmaiden

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Critics Consensus

The Handmaiden uses a Victorian crime novel as the loose inspiration for another visually sumptuous and absorbingly idiosyncratic outing from director Park Chan-wook.

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Critics Reviews

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Li Sian Goh Bitch Media 02/11/2021
The drama combines the sumptuous art direction and black humor of Park's past work with a warmth and compassion that feeds the soul. Go to Full Review
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas The Blue Lenses 08/25/2018
Once again Park finds himself immersed in a world of woman-driven intrigue, and like Stoker before it The Handmaiden is concerned with the power dynamics between women in what are contextually configured as sexually transgressive scenarios. Go to Full Review
K. Austin Collins The Ringer 08/10/2017
The Handmaiden is exemplary proof of Park's mastery, a high point from a director known for his purposeful aesthetic care, even in matters of overwrought sexual melodrama. Go to Full Review
Stephen A. Russell sbs.com.au Dec 20
This deliberately mischievous mix and each act’s limberly acrobatic flip ensures The Handmaiden keeps a tight grip on our attentions. Magnificent performances all round ensure our eye is pulled not just by their flesh, but also by their knotty intentions. Go to Full Review
JD Duran InSession Film 08/08/2024
The performances, the score, the craftsmanship, it’s all impeccable... Go to Full Review
Diana Tuova Spotlight on Film 07/30/2024
5/5
Fiercely intelligent, unapologetically erotic and endlessly stylish, The Handmaiden is a perfect film that toys with the audience’s expectations and formed beliefs. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Lina V @viktorijalina 1d One of the best movies out there. The plot is completely unpredictable, the characters are revealed very meticulously and new information keeps showing up until the last minute. Also the cinematography is just generally great See more Juanita V Nov 27 Watch it, won’t regret it! See more Alain E @AlainE Nov 2 I will not join the chorus of enthusiastic reviews. A very long movie with elaborate double crossings, eventually reveals that the winners are two young women who instead of harming one another, as it was the plan drawn by evil men, develop a lesbian romance and come on top , in many ways than one. Photography is excellent. With the many flashbacks it becomes increasingly difficult to understand in what phase the two protagonists are currently engaged. There is a generous amount of female nudity, including a long scene of lesbian sex in several positions. Other movies have been accused of gratuitous content, but Mr Wook apparently has solid credentials. See more Benjamin H Oct 30 Although a few characters and scenes could have been handled a tad better, The Handmaiden is yet another breathtaking achievement from Park Chan-wook that has excellent cinematography, stunningly complex storytelling and terrific performances, while having a lot of rich thematic depth and a surprisingly great score. See more Aluna U Sep 23 The Handmaiden, adapted from Sarah Waters' Fingersmith, masterfully transposes the 19th-century London setting to 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea, creating a rich and visually stunning historical backdrop. Told in three intricately woven chapters, the film unfolds with gripping suspense, emotional depth, and narrative twists that keep viewers fully engaged. With award-winning cinematography, meticulous artistic direction, and powerful performances—especially from debut actress Kim Tae Ri—The Handmaiden stands out as a bold, sensual, and unforgettable cinematic achievement that expertly blends mystery, romance, and rebellion. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) See more Peter G @PeterGabrielle Jul 28 It’s a really good film but maybe a little overhyped. The actors are what bring it to life more so than the directors vision imo See more Read all reviews
The Handmaiden

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Movie Info

Synopsis With help from an orphaned pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri), a Korean con man (Ha Jung-woo) devises an elaborate plot to seduce and bilk a Japanese woman (Kim Min-hee) out of her inheritance.
Director
Park Chan-wook
Producer
Park Chan-wook, Syd Lim
Screenwriter
Jeong Seo-kyeong
Distributor
Magnolia Pictures, Amazon Studios
Production Co
CJ Entertainment, Yong Film, Moho Film
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Romance
Original Language
Korean
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 21, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 30, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.0M
Runtime
2h 24m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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