The Handmaiden (Ah-ga-ssi) (2016)
94%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: Won 1 BAFTA Award
70 wins & 108 nominations total
The Handmaiden uses a Victorian crime novel as the loose inspiration for another visually sumptuous and absorbingly idiosyncratic outing from director Park Chan-wook.
The Handmaiden is a wild ride of psychological manipulation, sexual tension, and unexpected twists and turns. Park Chan-wook’s direction is masterful, creating a sumptuous and visually stunning world that draws you in and refuses to let go. But don’t be fooled by the film’s beauty – underneath lies a dark and twisted tale that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew. It’s a film that’s both disturbing and delightful, and one that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Production Company(ies)
C J Entertainment, Moho Film Yong Film
Distributor
Amazon Studios, Magnolia Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
2016
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos Dolby Surround 7.1
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:2h 24m
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Language(s):Korean, Japanese
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Country of origin:Korea (South)
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 21, 2016 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 24, 2017
Genre(s)
Drama/Romance
Keyword(s)
starring Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, Kim Hae-sook, Moon So-ri, directed by Park Chan-wook, written by Jeong Seo-kyeong, drama, romance, box office gross $2.0M, reviewed by Li Sian Goh, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, K Austin Collins, Tara Brady, Mark Kermode, Merryn Johns, Brian Eggert, Daisy Leigh-Phippard, Ben Turner, Panos Kotzathanasis, MPAA rating R, produced by Park Chan-wook, Syd Lim
Worldwide gross: $37,767,206
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $46,548,027
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,370
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 5,076,121
US/Canada gross: $2,006,788
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,473,363
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,984
US/Canada opening weekend: $92,129
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $113,549
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,888
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): ?10,000,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Kim Tae-ri – Sook-Hee
Ha Jung-woo – Count Fujiwara
Cho Jin-woong – Uncle Kouzuki
Kim Hae-sook – Butler
Moon So-ri – Aunt of Noble Lady
Director(s)
Park Chan-wook
Writer(s)
Jeong Seo-kyeong
Producer(s)
Park Chan-wook, Syd Lim
Film Festivals
Cannes, Toronto
Awards & Nominations
Won 1 BAFTA Award
70 wins & 108 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (224) | Top Critics (59) | Fresh (214) | Rotten (10)
The drama combines the sumptuous art direction and black humor of Park’s past work with a warmth and compassion that feeds the soul.
February 11, 2021
Li Sian Goh
Bitch Media
TOP CRITIC
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.
August 25, 2018
Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
The Blue Lenses
TOP CRITIC
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.
August 10, 2017
K. Austin Collins
The Ringer
TOP CRITIC
The tricksy plot streamlines and improves the final messy section of the source novel, to tease and mislead even the most astute viewer.
April 26, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Tara Brady
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
There are giddy pleasures to be found in this rip-roaringly ripe erotic thriller/melodrama from Oldboy director Park Chan-wook.
April 17, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Kermode
Observer (UK)
TOP CRITIC
The result is a lush, silken, erotic, disturbing, beautifully photographed drama of betrayal and passion.
April 14, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Kate Muir
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
It’s a beautiful film of quality and cleverness.
May 19, 2022
Merryn Johns
Curve
Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden envelops the viewer in a clever con game of psychological duplicity, depraved predators, dark humor, and sordid sexual delights.
April 9, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
While its a feat of technical brilliance and visual genius, its the way Park uses his story to force his audience to question their assumptions that made me speechless the first time I saw it.
February 21, 2022
Daisy Leigh-Phippard
Screen Queens
The Handmaiden is a remarkably progressive film that, despite using and abusing sex for the most part, refuses to objectify its subjects.
September 2, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Ben Turner
The Pink Lens
Through the extremity of the story, Park manages to present a number of social messages, once more
April 11, 2021
Panos Kotzathanasis
Asian Movie Pulse
Whether you’ve seen it before or not, now’s as perfect time as any to see what all the fuss is about while [director director Park Chan-Wook] begins filming his upcoming his romantic murder mystery Decision to Leave this year.
February 25, 2021
Toussaint Egan
Polygon…
Plot
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.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Handmaiden features “intense performances” from its leading ladies, including Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri.
Park-Chan-wook.jpg
