5 Facts about The Handmaiden, the Controversial Film Starring Kim Tae Ri

Many people know the name Kim Tae Ri from the character she plays, Na Hee Do, in the drama Twenty Five Twenty One. 

However, did you know that this 1990-born actress starred in a controversial Korean film called The Handmaiden as a waitress named Nam Sook Hee.

The Handmaiden tells the story of a Japanese noblewoman named Hideko who lives only with her uncle and her servants. 

Then came Prince Fujiwara who wanted to marry Princess Hideko, but it turned out that he was just a swindler who intended to take all her property. 

In the midst of an ongoing deception plot, an unexpected plot emerges, namely a same-sex love story between Princess Hideko and her personal maid. 

In other words, this film is not only about stealing treasure, but also a love story between women that contains a layered plot twist.

The Handmaiden, which was released in 2016, was controversial and became a topic of discussion among film lovers, especially for the people of South Korea themselves. 

Given the long history of Korea and Japan, the film, which is set in the 1930s when Korea was still under Japanese colonial rule, is like opening old wounds for some people.

In addition to taking the background of the Japanese colonial period in Korea, here are a number of other facts about the film The Handmaiden.

1. The Handmaiden is directed by Park Chan Wook.

Park Chan Wook's name had previously been known through one of the highest-grossing films in the thriller genre he directed, Oldboy (2003). 

As a director who is well-known for his thriller and crime genres, The Handmaiden is certainly not spared from violent and erotic scenes that are less common in the eyes of ordinary people.

Through this film, Park Chan Wook once again showed his interest in exploring the irrational contents of the human head. 

This is the reason why The Handmaiden is included in the erotic psychological-triller film genre.

2. Adaptation of the novel by Sarah Waters.

The Handmaiden is an adaptation of the novel Fingersmith written by Sarah Waters. 

If the novel takes a time and place in England in the 1800s or the British Victorian era, The Handmaiden is set in Korea in the 1930s when Japan was still ruling the Korean plains.

Both the novel and the film manage to present an interesting plot and this is where the plot twist occurs. 

The presentation of the story is divided into three parts, the first part is the story from the point of view of the servant, followed by the second part tells the story from the point of view of the noble princess, the last part is the story from the point of view of the two main characters.

3. Categorized in adult films.

Ki Tae Ri and Kim Min Hee managed to amaze the audience with the chemistry they showed through their acting when it came to hot scenes. 

In this film, there are many erotic and violent scenes that will not be comfortable when witnessed by underage audiences.

4. Banned from broadcasting in some countries.

Because it displays many explicit scenes regarding the taboo issue of same-sex relations, The Handmaiden does not have a permit to be broadcast in countries that adhere to eastern cultures.

5. The film that became Kim Tae Ri's acting debut.

Before plunging into the world of acting, Kim Tae Ri had already started her career in modeling and starred in several television commercials. 

Then after graduating from Kyung Hee University, she started acting in a music video called Spring is Coming and several other MVs. 

She also showed her acting talent in the short film Citizen Zombie. 

Until finally Kim Tae Ri for the first time appeared in the big screen film The Handmaiden defeating around 1500 audition participants to play the character Sook Hee.

One of the films directed by Park Chan Wook is indeed quite controversial. 

Even so, The Handmaiden managed to become the first film from South Korea to win the BAFTA Awards for Best Film Not in the English Language category. 

Amazingly, in that category, The Handmaiden was able to beat Angelina Jolie's film, First They Killed My Father.