*limited run* The Handmaiden (2016) | Extended Cut | Region-Free (Blu-Ray)

Title: The Handmaiden (2016)

Alternate Title: Agassi

Genre: Thriller / Drama / Romance

Plot Synopsis
In 1930s Korea under Japanese occupation, a young pickpocket is hired as a handmaiden to a reclusive Japanese heiress living on a secluded estate. Secretly working with a con man posing as a nobleman, she is tasked with helping him seduce the heiress and steal her fortune. As deception layers upon deception, shifting loyalties, hidden pasts, and unexpected emotions unravel a complex web of manipulation, desire, and revenge.

Cast and Crew

• Director: Park Chan-wook

• Writers: Park Chan-wook, Jeong Seo-kyeong

Cast:

• Kim Min-hee as Lady Hideko

• Kim Tae-ri as Sook-Hee

• Ha Jung-woo as Count Fujiwara

• Cho Jin-woong as Uncle Kouzuki

• Moon So-ri

• Lee Yong-nyeo

YouTube Trailer: The Handmaiden | Trailer

IMDb: The Handmaiden (2016)

Reviews from Letterboxd:

1. dirkH — ★★★★★
   “The way the slowly unfolding plot reveals its secrets makes the daunting runtime fly by with ease.”

2. karsten — ★★★★★
   “A masterpiece of structure and sensuality, constantly reshaping what you think you know.”

3. Jack — ★★★★½
   “Twisty, lush, and wildly entertaining… Park Chan-wook at his absolute peak.”

4. Lucy — ★★★★★
   “A stunning blend of romance and revenge with impeccable cinematography and performances.”

5. sam — ★★★★
   “Complex, erotic, and beautifully crafted, though intentionally disorienting at times.”

Meta Description: A visually stunning psychological thriller from Park Chan-wook, The Handmaiden weaves deception, romance, and revenge into an intricate tale of shifting identities and forbidden desire set in 1930s Korea.