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IMDbPro

The Handmaiden

Original title: Ah-ga-ssi
  • 20162016
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 25m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
154K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
590
7
Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, and Kim Tae-ri in The Handmaiden (2016)
Trailer for The Handmaiden
Play trailer1:08
3 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaRomanceThriller
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.A woman is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, but secretly she is involved in a plot to defraud her.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
154K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
590
7
  • Director
    • Park Chan-wook
  • Writers
    • Sarah Waters(inspired by the novel "Fingersmith" by)
    • Chung Seo-kyung(screenplay)
    • Park Chan-wook(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Kim Min-hee
    • Ha Jung-woo
    • Cho Jin-woong
  • Director
    • Park Chan-wook
  • Writers
    • Sarah Waters(inspired by the novel "Fingersmith" by)
    • Chung Seo-kyung(screenplay)
    • Park Chan-wook(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Kim Min-hee
    • Ha Jung-woo
    • Cho Jin-woong
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 338User reviews
    • 350Critic reviews
    • 84Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #239
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award
      • 70 wins & 108 nominations total

    Videos3

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:08
    Watch Official Trailer
    The Handmaiden Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:05
    Watch The Handmaiden Official Trailer
    The Library
    Clip 1:06
    Watch The Library

    Photos152

    Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri in The Handmaiden (2016)
    Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri in The Handmaiden (2016)
    Kim Min-hee in The Handmaiden (2016)
    Kim Tae-ri in The Handmaiden (2016)
    Kim Min-hee at an event for The Handmaiden (2016)
    Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, and Kim Tae-ri at an event for The Handmaiden (2016)
    Kim Min-hee and Kim Tae-ri at an event for The Handmaiden (2016)
    Cho Jin-woong at an event for The Handmaiden (2016)
    Park Chan-wook, Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, and Kim Tae-ri at an event for The Handmaiden (2016)
    Park Chan-wook, Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, and Kim Tae-ri at an event for The Handmaiden (2016)
    Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong, and Kim Tae-ri in The Handmaiden (2016)
    The Handmaiden (2016)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kim Min-hee
    Kim Min-hee
    • Lady Hideko
    Ha Jung-woo
    Ha Jung-woo
    • Count Fujiwara
    Cho Jin-woong
    Cho Jin-woong
    • Uncle Kouzuki
    • (as Jin-woong Jo)
    Moon So-ri
    Moon So-ri
    • Aunt of Lady Hideko
    • (as Moon So-Ri)
    Kim Tae-ri
    Kim Tae-ri
    • Sook-Hee
    • (as Tae Ri Kim)
    Yong-nyeo Lee
    Yong-nyeo Lee
    • Bok-soon
    Min-chae Yoo
    • Ggeut-dan
    Dong-hwi Lee
    Dong-hwi Lee
    • Goo-gai
    Kim Hae-sook
    Kim Hae-sook
    • Miss Sasaki
    • (as Hae-suk Kim)
    Kyu-jung Lee
    • Maid 1
    Si-eun Kim
    • Maid 2
    Si-yeon Ha
    • Maid 3
    Rina Takagi
    • Hideko's Mother
    Geun-hee Won
    • Butler
    Jong-Dae Kim
    • Mansion Driver
    Han-sun Jang
    • Kouzuki Porter
    Eun-yeong Kim
    • Maid 4
    Ri-woo Kim
    • Japanese Officer 1
    • Director
      • Park Chan-wook
    • Writers
      • Sarah Waters(inspired by the novel "Fingersmith" by)
      • Chung Seo-kyung(screenplay)
      • Park Chan-wook(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film title in Korean (Ah-ga-ssi) means ''The Lady'' referring to Lady Hideko, while the English/International title is The Handmaiden referring to Sook-hee.
    • Goofs
      The Count uses a propane gas lighter. That was impossible in 1930.
    • Quotes

      Lady Hideko: The daughter of a legendary thief, who sewed winter coats out of stolen purses. Herself a thief, pickpocket, swindler. The saviour who came to tear my life apart. My Tamako. My Sookee.

    • Crazy credits
      During the credits, the moon on the wall in the background shifts from full to new.
    • Alternate versions
      Extended version runs approx. 21 minutes longer.
    • Connections
      Featured in The EE British Academy Film Awards (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      The Song at the End of the Century
      Performed by Kim Tae-ri

      (P) 2016 CJ E&M MUSIC

    User reviews338

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Not Old Boy, but that's OK
    Sex. One of the most overused element in cinema and often mis-used and unnecessary. I was concerned when this movie is announced, a mis-used sex scene could make the movie feels cheap.

    This movie did manage to get it quite right.There were scenes of sexual attractions in many parts of the movie but it did not take away all other elements that were done well in the movie.

    Thematically beautiful, the mansion itself is split half between a western and Japanese. The costume design and cinematography are perfect. The west : grand and luxury; The Japanese : Clean, simple elegant design.

    The story can be summed up as a hero saving a princess and is split into 3 parts. I loved the first two parts, the third part was the only disappointing part where the plot was predictable and not as interesting and it being the last part makes the movie fell short.

    The music is perfect. Just like Old Boy, music is more crucial than other movies. Old Boy is a movie that would make you think of a modernized hero revenge movie that is both realistic and unbelievable. The music have strong presence to help build up that world. Same goes with this movie as it is also a very realistic setting (you know the period of time it is based upon, the characters motives are clear and their actions are) yet with some very unbelievable events when you add everything together.

    It isn't a perfect movie, I saw some editing that could be improved here and there. The last part was also a small disappointment for myself. But it is a damn unique movie that you have to watch.
    helpful•114
    40
    • etismyname-09318
    • Jul 16, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 1, 2016 (South Korea)
    • Country of origin
      • South Korea
    • Official sites
      • Amazon.com
      • Official Facebook
    • Languages
      • Korean
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
      • Người Hầu Gái
    • Filming locations
      • Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
    • Production companies
      • CJ Entertainment
      • Moho Film
      • Yong Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • ₩10,000,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,006,788
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $92,129
      • Oct 23, 2016
    • Gross worldwide
      • $37,854,655
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 25 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Dolby Atmos
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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