The Handmaiden
| The Handmaiden | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 아가씨 |
| RR | Agassi |
| MR | Agassi |
| Directed by | Park Chan-wook |
| Written by |
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| Based on | Fingersmith by Sarah Waters |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Chung Chung-hoon |
| Edited by |
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| Music by | Jo Yeong-wook |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | CJ Entertainment |
Release dates |
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Running time | 144 minutes (theatrical cut) 168 minutes (extended cut) |
| Country | South Korea |
| Languages |
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| Budget | |
| Box office | US$38.6 million |
The Handmaiden (Korean: 아가씨; RR: Agassi; lit. Lady) is a 2016 South Korean erotic historical psychological thriller film directed, co-written and co-produced by Park Chan-Wook and starring Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo and Cho Jin-woong. It is inspired by the 2002 novel Fingersmith by Welsh writer Sarah Waters, with the setting changed from Victorian era Britain to Korea under Japanese rule, where a Korean girl is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress who lives a secluded life on a countryside estate.
The Handmaiden was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. It was released in South Korea on 1 June 2016 to widespread critical acclaim (with singled out hail towards its directing, writing, twists, cinematography, musical score and cast performances) and grossed over US$38 million worldwide. At the 71st British Academy Film Awards, the film won the category of Best Film Not in the English Language. The movie appeared in many lists of 2016 top ten best movies, and since its release has been regarded as Chan-Wook's best film since Oldboy (2003).