The Handmaiden
The Frida Cinema's seating is first-come, first-serve. For our Midnight Screenings, please plan on arriving by 11:30pm to ensure ample time for parking, picking up concessions, and securing optimal seats. Screening will begin promptly at midnight.
Director: Park Chan-wook Run Time: 145 min. Rating: R Release Year: 2016 Language: Korean
Starring: Cho Jin-woong, Ha Jung-woo, Kim Hae-sook, Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri
21st Century Cult continues with The Handmaiden, Park Chan-Wook’s spellbinding psychological thriller.
Set in 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea, the film follows Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri), a young pickpocket hired as a handmaiden to Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee), a wealthy Japanese heiress living under the oppressive control of her uncle. Secretly working for a conman posing as a Japanese count (Ha Jung-woo), Sook-hee’s mission is to help him seduce and swindle Hideko out of her fortune. However, unexpected emotions and shocking revelations disrupt their plans, leading to a tale of betrayal, passion, and empowerment.
With its intricate narrative structure, lush visuals, and masterful direction, The Handmaiden garnered widespread acclaim, earning accolades such as the BAFTA for Best Film Not in the English Language.