Review of The Handmaiden (2016) by Lindsey L — 19 Nov 2016

An "erotic mystery set in Japanese occupied Korea" was certainly not on my radar earlier this year, but it turned out to be one of the best films to date. Beautifully crafted by "Oldboy" director Park Chan-Wook, it tells the story of a con man who tries to scam a rich heiress of her fortune, and the lesbian romance that develops between the heiress and the girl enlisted to aid in said plot.

The film shows many of the major story events from different characters' perspectives, consistently revealing each ones' underlying motivations then deepening the mystery. In the past Chan-Wook has utilized sexuality on screen to disturb and provoke the audience, many times it adds a layer of disgust to an already heart-wrenching tale.

Today there is nothing taboo about lesbianism (unless you are a prude or puritan), but it would have been unheard of for the time and place in which it is set. The highly erotic relationship of the two female leads becomes a method of empowerment for them against the men in their lives who seek to use them for gratification, whether it be sexual, emotional, literary, or financial.

And as explicit as the film becomes, it doesn't feel exploitative or smutty. Perhaps this has to do with the exquisite art and photography direction. The greens and fuchsias in particular are so mind-boggling and lush that every scene is an absolute feast for the eyes.

While the plot becomes very dark at times, the humor never relents, and while there are no action scenes to speak of, the film is never any less than engrossing. It's one of the few movies I've ever seen that I wish had been longer.

This is a must see in any year, but I wouldn't recommend viewing it with your significant other's parents, that is, unless they are lesbians.