The Handmaiden (2016) (22/25)

IPark Chan-wook’s adaptation of Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith transports the action to Korea, where a young con artist gets enlisted to work for a wealthy Japanese heiress, and convince her to marry a handsome scam artist. But soon enough, Sook-Hee (Tae-ri Kim) finds herself falling for Lady Hideko (Min-hee Kim), and wanting to keep her all for herself.

And if you think you know where this is going, you don’t know The Handmaiden. Park Chan-wook’s stunning photographed, sensual and absolutely astonishing historical thriller reveals one shocking truth after another, tearing the lid off of misogynistic cruelty and the evils of the male gaze, while pitting each remarkable character against the others in a desperate fight for freedom. Unpredictable and absolutely captivating, The Handmaiden is a masterpiece.