The Handmaiden: A Tale of Resistance and Love
By Michelle Young, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Content warning: Japanese imperialism, grooming.
Park Chan-Wook's filmography is filled with critical acclaim, including recent releases like No Other Choice (2025) and notable works such as Decision to Leave (2022) and Oldboy (2003).
However, The Handmaiden (2016) remains a favourite, a psychological thriller that explores colonialism, patriarchy, and queerness.
The film's opening scene sets the tone: under heavy rain, the Imperial Japanese Army marches into a small alleyway in colonial Korea, where Korean children sing before the army draws their weapons, causing the children to scream and scatter.
Author's summary: The Handmaiden is a psychological thriller exploring resistance and love.