Director Park Chan-wook's new erotic thriller "The Handmaiden" takes place in 1930s South Korea, when the country was heavily influenced by its Japanese colonizers.
Director Park Chan-wook's new erotic thriller "The Handmaiden" takes place in 1930s South Korea, when the country was heavily influenced by its Japanese colonizers.
The Jokers
The plot revolves around handmaiden Sookee (Kim Tae-ri) and her mistress Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee). Sookee, a young pickpocket, is sent to a country estate to secure the heiress' confidence, before pushing her towards marriage with a fellow swindler posing as a Japanese Count (Ha Jung-woo). All the while Uncle Kouzuki (Cho Jin-woong), a perverted old man, holds sway over his melancholy niece.
The plot revolves around handmaiden Sookee (Kim Tae-ri) and her mistress Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee). Sookee, a young pickpocket, is sent to a country estate to secure the heiress' confidence, before pushing her towards marriage with a fellow swindler posing as a Japanese Count (Ha Jung-woo). All the while Uncle Kouzuki (Cho Jin-woong), a perverted old man, holds sway over his melancholy niece.
courtesy Curzon Artifical Eye
"The Handmaiden" is the first time Korean stars Kim Min-hee and Ha Jung-woo have appeared in a Park film. The psycho-sexual drama, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, is inspired by "Fingersmith", a novel by British author Sarah Waters.
"The Handmaiden" is the first time Korean stars Kim Min-hee and Ha Jung-woo have appeared in a Park film. The psycho-sexual drama, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, is inspired by "Fingersmith", a novel by British author Sarah Waters.
courtesy Curzon Artifical Eye
Park's previous film was the director's first foray into Hollywood. "Stoker", featuring Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode, told the story of a mystery uncle (Goode) who appears after the death of his brother (Wasikowska's father). The young lady, charmed by the man, nevertheless suspects he may have ulterior motives.
"Stoker" (2013) —
Park's previous film was the director's first foray into Hollywood. "Stoker", featuring Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode, told the story of a mystery uncle (Goode) who appears after the death of his brother (Wasikowska's father). The young lady, charmed by the man, nevertheless suspects he may have ulterior motives.
courtesy Fox Searchlight
"Thirst" was awarded the Jury Prize at Cannes in 2009. An alternative take on vampire flicks of old, we share in the horrors of a young priest who becomes a vampire after a failed medical experiment. Angst and blood-letting ensues.
"Thirst" (2009) —
"Thirst" was awarded the Jury Prize at Cannes in 2009. An alternative take on vampire flicks of old, we share in the horrors of a young priest who becomes a vampire after a failed medical experiment. Angst and blood-letting ensues.
courtesy Focus Features
Turning his hand to romantic comedy, Park used a mental institute as a backdrop for the burgeoning relationship between a young suicidal woman who believes she's a cyborg, and a schizophrenic kleptomaniac who claims he can steal aspects of people's personalities.
"I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK" (2006) —
Turning his hand to romantic comedy, Park used a mental institute as a backdrop for the burgeoning relationship between a young suicidal woman who believes she's a cyborg, and a schizophrenic kleptomaniac who claims he can steal aspects of people's personalities.
courtesy CJ Entertainment
The last chapter of Park's "Vengeance Trilogy" competed for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, walking away with a handful of other prizes. It follows the fate of an ex-convict hunting down the true perpetrator of a murder she did time for.
"Lady Vengeance" (2005) —
The last chapter of Park's "Vengeance Trilogy" competed for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, walking away with a handful of other prizes. It follows the fate of an ex-convict hunting down the true perpetrator of a murder she did time for.
courtesy CJ Entertainment
Considered by many to be the pinnacle of Park's achievements, "Oldboy" won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004, when fellow connoisseur of violence Quentin Tarantino led the jury. A revenge thriller with elements of Greek tragedy, it begins with Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a man imprisoned in a hotel room for 15 years for no obvious reason. One day he's released, and goes looking for answers -- but not before stopping off to eat a live octopus, a scene which has achieved infamy, mainly because the seven octopuses used were real.
"Oldboy" (2003) —
Considered by many to be the pinnacle of Park's achievements, "Oldboy" won the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004, when fellow connoisseur of violence Quentin Tarantino led the jury. A revenge thriller with elements of Greek tragedy, it begins with Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a man imprisoned in a hotel room for 15 years for no obvious reason. One day he's released, and goes looking for answers -- but not before stopping off to eat a live octopus, a scene which has achieved infamy, mainly because the seven octopuses used were real.
courtesy Tartan Films
Kicking off the "Vengeance Trilogy", "Sympathy" was Park's follow up after his break through, the high-stakes demilitarized zone thriller "Joint Security Area". The plot follows a deaf-mute brother doing everything he can to raise money for his sister's kidney transplant -- including kidnapping the daughter of his former boss.
"Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance" (2002) —
Kicking off the "Vengeance Trilogy", "Sympathy" was Park's follow up after his break through, the high-stakes demilitarized zone thriller "Joint Security Area". The plot follows a deaf-mute brother doing everything he can to raise money for his sister's kidney transplant -- including kidnapping the daughter of his former boss.
courtesy CJ Entertainmen