The Handmaiden

A woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, but secretly she is involved in a plot to defraud her. 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.

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Asia
  • Awarded Queer Movies
  • BAFTA Film Awards
  • Cannes : Winners' Filmography
  • Cannes: En compétition
  • Cinéart: 50 Years of Great Cinema
  • Festival de Cannes
  • Festival de Cannes - Tax Shelter
  • International Film Festival Rotterdam
  • Korean Cinema
  • Korean Cinema (home)
  • LGBTQIA+
  • Just released
  • Our Favorite Queer Romances
  • Our Greatest Love Stories
  • Portraits of empowered women
  • Queer Romance
  • Sexplicit
  • Top 22, Most Watched Films
  • Women's Rights
  • queer

Actors

  • Kim Min-Hee
  • Kim Tae-Ri
  • Jung-woo Ha
  • So-ri MOON
  • Jin-Woong Cho
  • Kim Hae-Sook

Director

  • Park Chan-wook

Thriller, Drama


2h 25min


-16

KO


NL

FR

Korea, Republic of
2016
A woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, but secretly she is involved in a plot to defraud her.

A woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, but secretly she is involved in a plot to defraud her.


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.

Festivals

Cast & Crew