“My saviour who came to ruin my life. My Tamako, my Sookee.”|Jun. 01, 2016|South Korea|145 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Drama;Romance;Thriller
Description: Set in Japanese-occupied Korea, *The Handmaiden* (2016) follows a cunning con man known as “Count Fujiwara.” He devises a scheme to seduce Lady Hideko, a wealthy Japanese heiress, marry her, and then have her committed to an asylum to claim her inheritance. To execute his plan, he recruits Sook-hee, a skilled pickpocket, to serve as Hideko’s maid and subtly persuade her to marry him.
Hideko resides with her uncle, Kouzuki, a Korean man who betrayed his country by aiding the Japanese in exchange for a gold mine. Kouzuki uses his wealth to fuel his obsession with rare books, often selling forgeries to amass more resources. Sook-hee’s primary task is to assist Hideko in preparing for readings that Kouzuki hosts for his guests. After a particularly distressing reading session, Hideko insists Sook-hee sleep beside her, leading to an intimate encounter under the guise of preparing Hideko for her marriage to the Count. However, Sook-hee grows conflicted about the scheme, especially when Hideko hints at loving someone else. Despite her doubts, she pushes Hideko to proceed with the marriage, only to be violently dismissed by Hideko.
When Kouzuki leaves for a week, Hideko and Fujiwara elope. After securing her inheritance, it becomes clear that Hideko’s apparent innocence was a ruse. She and Fujiwara betray Sook-hee, framing her as the “Countess” and having her committed to the asylum instead.
Flashbacks reveal the dark truth behind Hideko’s life. Her “reading practice” was actually Kouzuki’s method of teaching her to erotically recite sadistic pornography, a practice forced upon her since childhood. This regime of psychological and physical abuse drove Hideko’s aunt to madness, eventually leading to her death. Hideko later discovers that Kouzuki murdered her aunt using torture devices in the basement after she attempted to escape. As the story unfolds, the layers of deception and trauma deepen, painting a haunting picture of survival and betrayal.
Cast director: Park Chan-wook
Cast actor: Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, Kim Hae-sook, Moon So-ri, Lee Yong-nyeo, Lee Dong-hwi, Jo Eun-hyung, Han Ha-na
Original name: 아가씨