‘The Handmaiden’ is a beautiful and thrilling experience

by Kala Humphries

With the wave of recognition “Parasite” is riding, it’s important to call back to the man that many critics believe put Korean cinema on the map, Park Chan-wook. To many, Korean cinema is cinema at its peak. It combines symbolism, cinematography and the thrill of a character’s moral ambiguity. The use of these devices not only makes for great films but also underlying messages to instill in audiences across the world.

Park Chan-wook definitely utilizes each and every one of those devices in his works. He isn’t the first nor is he the best, but his name is the one everyone utters when a conversation about Korean cinema is introduced. So it’s important to put his name back into the conversation now as without him, Parasite probably wouldn’t be where it is now.

In each of his films, his presence is felt because there is a certain “Park Chan-wook” quality that runs throughout all his films. Along with the devices mentioned earlier, most of his movies share the same themes: incest, complicated love (which sometimes is incest), deceit and a plan to be executed.

One film in particular that stands out from the rest of his portfolio is “The Handmaiden” (2016). This film doesn’t miss one mark. There is incest. There is complicated love. There is deceit. And there is a plan to be executed.

All of these combined make for one hell of a movie.

“The Handmaiden” is actually based on a book called “Fingersmith” by Sarah Waters. Both the book and the film share many things in common, but Park Chan-wook made sure he changed the game for book-to-movie adaptations. Rather than copying the book page-to-page, he put his own twist on it in a good way.

Usually, when books get movie adaptations, directors putting their “twist” on things isn’t always a good thing. The movie ends up missing key details, characters, and events for the sake of keeping the movie under 90 minutes. However, Park Chan-wook did not miss a single beat and even added a few more. He kept the plot of “Fingersmith,” added some new elements and changed the country and culture from Victorian England to Korea.

Set in Japanese-occupied Korea, “The Handmaiden” follows Sook-hee, a Korean pickpocket, as she partners up with conman Count Fujiwara to swindle Japanese heiress Lady Hideko out of her inheritance. But, when hands touch and feelings arise, things get complicated for Sook-hee.

First things first, the structure of the movie is something that drives the plot directly — there are three parts. With each part, a new perspective is introduced and secrets are revealed. There are many movies that employ this technique, but what makes Park Chan-wook’s use of it unique and effective is the fact there is no deception. The perspective the audience sees in Part 1 is the perspective they are meant to see. The camera faced that way for a reason. Certain details were left out for a reason. The audience wasn’t supposed to see the twists that are introduced in Parts 2 and 3. That was the whole point of the structure.

It’s refreshing to watch a movie and have that in mind because you don’t have to rewatch it to see if you missed something … because you didn’t.

Another thing about “The Handmaiden” worth noting is the stunning visuals. Not only are the actors nice to look at, but the scenery and just the overall cinematography are both extremely stunning. There is a certain formula into making a scene so visually appealing and Park Chan-wook and his team definitely have mastered the art of that formula. When it comes to the overall composition of a scene, they are just incredibly beautiful and moving. The camera is in the right spot, the lighting is fitting, and the symmetry is awe-inspiring. If you pause the film in just the right spot, it looks as if the scene was ripped from a painting at the Louvre.

The only thing that could’ve been changed about “The Handmaiden” is the graphicness. There really is no need for graphic sex scenes anymore. People know what it is, how it works. It’s not anything new or special since it’s almost in every movie nowadays. However, it is refreshing that it’s between two women. That is something that makes it special and new. It’s been a long time coming and Lesbians deserve to have their love represented in such a passionate way. Still, could’ve done without those scenes.

In the end, “The Handmaiden” isn’t a film for everyone. Different people have different tastes. But, for die-hard film fans or just people interested in watching foreign films, “The Handmaiden” is a great cinematic experience if you like thrills and twists. Yes, it’s in Korean, but the message is universal. Love is love.