Cinematic Treasure Trove - #3 The Handmaiden 2016

The Handmaiden is a 2016 South Korean erotic thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook, based on the novel "Fingersmith" by Sarah Waters. The film tells the story of a pickpocket named Sook-hee who becomes the handmaiden of a wealthy Japanese heiress named Lady Hideko.

Set in the 1930s during the Japanese occupation of Korea, "The Handmaiden" explores themes of class, deception, and sexuality. Sook-hee is hired by a conman posing as a Japanese count to help him seduce and marry Lady Hideko, who is set to inherit a vast fortune. However, as Sook-hee becomes closer to Lady Hideko, she begins to question her loyalty to the conman and her feelings for Lady Hideko.

The film is divided into three parts, with each part showing the same events from different perspectives, revealing new information and twists as the story progresses.

In "Part 1" of the film "The Handmaiden," set in Japanese-occupied Korea during the 1930s, a con man called "Count Fujiwara" hires a pickpocket named Sook-hee to become the maid of a Japanese heiress named Lady Hideko. The plan is for Sook-hee to encourage Hideko to marry the Count, after which he will commit her to an asylum and steal her inheritance. Hideko lives with her uncle Kouzuki, who is obsessed with rare books and sells forgeries to accumulate money and books. Sook-hee's job is to help Hideko prepare to read for Kouzuki's guests, but the two women end up making love. Hideko and Fujiwara then elope, cash out Hideko's inheritance, and double-cross Sook-hee by having her committed in Hideko's place.

The flashbacks reveal that Hideko's reading lessons were actually Kouzuki teaching her to read sadistic pornography from a young age. The lessons involved a regime of psychological and physical abuse that deteriorated the mental health of Hideko's aunt, who eventually committed suicide. Hideko then took over as the reader for auctions, and when she asked about a hanging in one of the books, Kouzuki revealed that he had tortured and killed her aunt in the basement.

The Count gives Hideko opium as a "wedding present" and agrees to find her a girl to hire as a maid, to commit to an asylum in Hideko's place. While teaching Sook-hee to be her maid, Hideko falls in love with her. However, when Sook-hee insists on going ahead with the planned marriage, Hideko throws her out and tries to hang herself.

Sook-hee saves her, and they both confess their plots. Hideko shows Sook-hee the sadistic books she was forced to read and both of them begin destroying the library. They plan to escape the men who have been manipulating them and Hideko calls Sook-hee "her savior."

In Part 3, after Sook-hee is left at the asylum, Hideko and Fujiwara switch identities and he asks her to marry him again. He reveals that Sook-hee will die soon, causing Hideko to question his intentions. Sook-hee's friend Bok-soon sets a fire at the asylum and rescues her, while Hideko doses Fujiwara's wine with opium to steal her money. The women reunite and disguise themselves to escape detection.

Kouzuki captures Fujiwara after getting a letter from Hideko revealing Fujiwara's deception. Kouzuki tortures Fujiwara for information about his niece's sexuality. Fujiwara makes up a story and reveals a disturbing flashback about Hideko's self-harm. Fujiwara tricks Kouzuki into smoking a cigarette laced with mercury, killing them both. Sook-hee and Hideko celebrate their freedom by having sex again on a ferry to Shanghai.

"The Handmaiden" received critical acclaim and was praised for its beautiful cinematography, intricate plot, and strong performances. The film was also noted for its explicit sex scenes, which were depicted in a tasteful and artistic manner. "The Handmaiden" won several awards at international film festivals and is considered one of the best Korean films of all time.