Year: 2016

Director: Park Chan-wook

Writer: Seo-Kyung Chung & Park Chan-wook. Novel by Sarah Waters

Cinematography: Chung Chung-hoon

Cast: Kim Tae-ri, Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Jo Jin-woong

Country of Origin: South Korea

Rating: NR

Time: 144 Min.

Park Chan-wook is back and he's better than ever! The Handmaiden is a decadent dessert that is luscious, super kinky, and full of deceit! Adapted from Sarah Water's novel, Fingersmith, Park takes the essential elements and transports the setting to the 1930's Korea when it was under Japanese colonialism. A con man hires an orphaned pickpocket named Sook-hee played by fresh-faced, Kim Tae-ri, to become the maid to heiress Lady Hideko in attempt to steal her wealth. The plan goes array when Lady Hideko falls in love with Sook-hee. I'm getting all hot and bothers here just writing the premise!

After the divisive reception of Stoker (See Review), I'm glad Park Chan-wook went back to making a Korean-language film that not only tantalized native Koreans but everyone else as well. Park was shocked to discover that some of the Americans that watched the film were so taken back by its provocative display of lesbian sex, contrary to his belief that most Americans are more "liberal". The Handmaiden is classic Park Chan-wook but with a more dense structure and erotic storyline that aims to beguile as well as seduce you! Once again, Park never lets me down and let's hope he never does. :D

- Other Poster -

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Park Chan-wook's latest film The Handmaiden already made waves at this year's Cannes Film Festival and lo and behold, the marvelous poster just dropped! When I was in Korea, the film had already come out and this exact poster was the one plastered throughout the city and I'm glad they're using the same one for the American poster because it says so much. The story follows a young female pickpocket from the slums who is hired by a con man to join an elaborate scam in which she becomes the personal servant of a wealthy Japanese heiress, who she ultimately tried to seduce! I can't wait to see this steamy lesbian drama unfold once it comes out in theaters October 14!

- Teaser Trailer -

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Holly hell you guys! Why didn't anyone tell me that Park Chan-wook dropped the teaser trailer from his upcoming film, The Handmaiden?! Park fell in love with the plot of Sarah Waters' novel, Fingersmith so much that he decided to turn it into a film! It'll be interesting to see how he turns this crime novel set in the Victorian era Britain into a story set in the good old days of Korea. The story follows a young female pickpocket from the slums who is hired by a con man to join an elaborate scam in which she becomes the personal servant of a wealthy Japanese heiress, who she ultimately tries to seduce. Not only does the film have a killer storyline & cast but the rapid-paced teaser gives us a glimpse of the madness that is in store for us! It looks deliciously deceitful and mischievous! I love it already! The Handmaiden premieres at Cannes this month!

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As a big fan of Park Chan-wook, I am always excited to see new works by him whether it is features or shorts. And this time, we get all the ingenuity of Park but in a pint-size in a A Rose Reborn, a short film in promotion for an Italian fashion company, Zegna starring Jack Hudson (Boardwalk Empire) and Daniel Wu (Europa Report, Warcraft). The short introduces us to a young CEO who travels across the globe to meet a Chinese investor but stumbles upon a number of riddles and other odd exchanges before they can reach a deal. 

A Rose Reborn is filled with many Park trademarks of vivid and dark cinematography that is filled with a number of chilling and mysterious quirks which eventually transforms the tone to highlight the magically beautiful philosophical contemplation on life. I've only seen one other short film by Park called Nightfishing and this is another rare film that never ceases to amaze in his never-ending ability to tell dense and thoughtful stories that encompass the universal story of the human experience. It was a great move by Zegna to have Park concoct a unique and global story about the journey of discovery and growth that also emphasizes the lifestyle of fashion. 

(See more on the Zegna site)

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I'm late on this but check out these unused posters for Spike Lee's remake of Park Chan-wook's classic film, OldBoy. Although,  I had been very skeptical of the remake considering that I hold the original film very close to my heart, but Artist Juan Luis Garcia's designs evoke the eerie and desperation that the film entails. I am currently reading the OldBoy manga and knowing that there are various differences from the book to Park's film, it gives me a sprinkle of hope to know that Lee will try to adapt more of the comic than the South Korean version. I would've loved if they made the official poster any one of the above but they chose the one below. Not bad eh? Spike Lee's OldBoy comes out November 27. 

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Thanks Crome Yellow for updating on this first. The first poster of Spike Lee's remake of Park Chan-wook's infamous film, Old Boy is out! At first glance, it looks really campy but I guess, the poster does a good job in exuding some kind of mystery behind the well-known story. I don't know I'm in complete denial. I guess we'll all have to wait till it comes out on October 25 to find out!

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Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002, Park Chan-wook)

Cha Yeong-mi: In this world...there are good kidnappings and bad kidnappings. A good kidnapping enlists the parents' cooperation. If the parents call the police... the kid dies. The parents pay up...and the kid gets returned. Then nobody finds out about it. That is why people think all kidnappings are bad.

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Stoker

(2013, Park Chan-wook)

Grade: B+

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As soon as someone reblogged the torturously anticipated trailer of Park Chan-Wook's (J.S.A., Vengeance Trilogy) U.S. debut film, Stoker on Tumblr, I jumped faster than Tom Cruise jumped on that couch and pressed play. Immediately into the seconds of the trailer, the soundtrack and the look to the film screeched an unholy volume of Park Chan-Wookness that made me devour the straw of my caprisun to cripples of plastic. I don't want to give anything away because the trailer should more than sufficient (esp. the opening lines, chilling!) in convincing anyone wary to instantly become a Park Chan-Wook fan if they weren't one already (seriously who isn't, kill em). Wentworth Miller (yes, THAT Prison Break guy) wrote the screenplay for Stoker which is a prequel to Uncle Charlie under the pseudonym Ted Foulke because god forbid, an actor write a hauntingly beautiful piece of work and actually get picked up! His script was voted on the 2010 "Black List" of the 10 best unproduced screenplays making its rounds in Hollywood and I'm elated to discover that Park got to be the one to direct it. Mia Wasikowska. Nicole Kidman. Matthew Goode. Jacki Weaver. And Park Chan-Wook. I don't think it gets any better than this. Stoker will be released on March 1, 2013! I don't know if I can wait that long...

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Thirst is the upcoming korean film from renowned director Park Chan-wook about wait what? a vampire you say? and it may be bloodier than his previous work, the vengeance trilogy? IMPOSSIBLE!

or go here...

A beloved and devoted priest (Song Kang-ho) from a small town volunteers for a medical experiment which fails and turns him into a vampire. Physical and psychological changes lead to his affair with a wife of his childhood friend who is repressed and tired of her mundane life. The one-time priest falls deeper in despair and depravity. As things turns for worse, he struggles to maintain whats left of his humanity.

ive loved park chan-wook ever since ive laid my eyes on old boy. so im hoping he does NOT disappoint! this comes out in limited theatres on july 31st! get ready for some blood fest!

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