The Handmaiden

The Handmaiden offers 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: he recently released No Other Choice (2025) and is also known for works such as Decision to Leave (2022) and Oldboy (2003). However, my favourite will always be the psychological thriller The Handmaiden (2016). Under heavy rain, the Imperial Japanese Army marches into a small alleyway in colonial Korea. Korean children sing behind them, and the Japanese army draws their weapons — the children scream and scatter. This is the film’s opening and sets the tone for the rest of the movie.  We…

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