Prime VideoThe Handmaiden (2016)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 8.6
Overview
1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sookee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle Kouzuki. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until Sookee and Hideko discover some unexpected emotions.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Prime VideoBias Dimensions
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: High
LGBTQ: Positive
Race Swap: Yes
Overview
1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sookee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle Kouzuki. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until Sookee and Hideko discover some unexpected emotions.
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Prime VideoDetailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Progressive
Primary
The film explicitly critiques patriarchal exploitation and celebrates female liberation and solidarity as its central thesis, positioning it clearly on the left. The narrative champions women's autonomy and subversion against systemic male dominance and sexual subjugation.
This South Korean film features an all-Korean cast, authentic to its historical setting. The narrative strongly critiques patriarchal power dynamics, explicitly portraying male figures as antagonists. It centers on the agency of its female protagonists and includes a prominent queer romance, challenging traditional gender and sexual norms.
Secondary
The Handmaiden features a central lesbian romance depicted with dignity, complexity, and agency. The protagonists' love is a source of strength against patriarchal exploitation, leading to a triumphant and affirming conclusion for their relationship. The film unequivocally validates their queer identity and bond.
The film adapts a British novel set in Victorian England, where the main characters are implicitly white. The adaptation relocates the story to 1930s Korea and portrays the characters as East Asian, constituting a race swap for the core roles.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
The Handmaiden is an adaptation of Sarah Waters' novel "Fingersmith." While the setting and nationalities of characters are changed, the core characters' genders remain consistent with their portrayal in the source novel.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
8.6
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
User Ratings
8.1
8.2
Critic Ratings
9.6
8.5
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