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The Handmaiden

The Handmaiden is a 2016 South Korean erotic historical psychological thriller film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Park Chan-wook.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Handmaiden is a 2016 South Korean erotic historical psychological thriller film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Park Chan-wook. It is loosely based on Sarah Waters’s 2002 novel Fingersmith, with the setting changed from Victorian Britain to Japanese-occupied Korea in the 1930s. The film stars Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, and Cho Jin-woong.

Premise

The film centers on a Korean pickpocket hired as a handmaiden to a reclusive Japanese heiress. The arrangement is part of a larger scam, but the story develops into a complex tale of shifting loyalties and romance.

Production and source material

The Handmaiden is inspired by Sarah Waters’s 2002 novel Fingersmith. Park Chan-wook and his collaborators moved the setting from Victorian-era Britain to Japanese-occupied Korea.

Release and reception

The film premiered in 2016 and was screened internationally, including at the Cannes Film Festival according to secondary sources. It was widely discussed for its visual style, erotic content, and genre blending.

Themes

Commentary on power, deception, class, and colonial occupation is central to many descriptions of the film. Critics also commonly describe it as a love story, thriller, and psychological puzzle.

Key facts

  • The film is set in 1930s Korea during the period of Japanese occupation.
  • Its story follows a handmaiden and a Japanese heiress caught in a scheme involving theft and deceit.
  • The film adapts the premise of Sarah Waters’s Fingersmith while relocating the story to Korea under Japanese rule.
  • Park Chan-wook directed, co-wrote, and co-produced the film.
  • The film is known for combining romance, thriller, and psychological drama elements.
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Canadian context

The film has relevance for Canadian readers primarily as an internationally acclaimed South Korean feature frequently discussed in global film criticism and festival coverage.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Handmaiden about?
It follows a Korean pickpocket hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress as part of a scheme to steal her fortune, but the plan changes as relationships develop.
Who directed The Handmaiden?
The film was directed, co-written, and co-produced by Park Chan-wook.
What is The Handmaiden based on?
It is inspired by Sarah Waters’s 2002 novel Fingersmith.
When was The Handmaiden released?
It was released in 2016.
What language is The Handmaiden in?
The film’s language is Korean.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Handmaiden
    Supports: Basic film identification, year, director, cast, setting, and source novel
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4016934/
    Supports: Premise, setting, and cast
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4016934/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and scheme details
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-handmaiden-2016a
    Supports: Critical description, themes, and plot overview
  5. Johns Hopkins University Press — https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/26/article/881760/pdf
    Supports: Adaptation from Fingersmith and setting change
  6. AsianWiki — https://asianwiki.com/The_Handmaiden
    Supports: Director, writers, runtime, release date, genre, language, and cast
  7. Plex — https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/movie/the-handmaiden
    Supports: Runtime, year, and plot summary