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.
- Director
- Writers
- Sarah Waters(inspired by the novel "Fingersmith" by)
- Chung Seo-kyung(screenplay)
- Park Chan-wook(screenplay)
- Stars
- Director
- Writers
- Sarah Waters(inspired by the novel "Fingersmith" by)
- Chung Seo-kyung(screenplay)
- Park Chan-wook(screenplay)
- Stars
- Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 70 wins & 108 nominations total
Cho Jin-woong
- Uncle Kouzuki
- (as Jin-woong Jo)
Moon So-ri
- Aunt of Lady Hideko
- (as Moon So-Ri)
Kim Tae-ri
- Sook-Hee
- (as Tae Ri Kim)
Kim Hae-sook
- Miss Sasaki
- (as Hae-suk Kim)
- Director
- 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
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe 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.
- GoofsThe 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 creditsDuring the credits, the moon on the wall in the background shifts from full to new.
- Alternate versionsExtended version runs approx. 21 minutes longer.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The EE British Academy Film Awards (2018)
Featured review
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.
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•11440
- etismyname-09318
- Jul 16, 2016
Details
Box office
- 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
- Runtime2 hours 25 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content
