...an incredibly ambitious work that also tries to tackle identity, nationalism, language, deception, and gender. The Handmaiden is an incredibly rich work of cinema with a lovely score, gorgeous cinematography, and captivating performances from Tae Ri Kim, Jung-woo Ha, and Min-hee Kim. It’s also a movie that would fit in nicely with Park’s trio of revenge pictures, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance.
The Handmaiden is best viewed knowing none of the twists and turns, and it’s a film I imagine will improve on repeat viewings. It’s thoughtful and complex while also being immensely entertaining, funny, dark, and disturbing. It’s the kind of masterful work we’ve come to expect from Park Chan-wook, and while the subtext can be a bit uneven at times with regards to the sex scenes, The Handmaiden still casts an enchanting spell.
Rating: B+
