I love this movie so much because the characters are so empowered by each other, and it demonstrates that a wlw story can be told in different genres and tones rather than purely romantic context. Also the dark humor in it is amazing, Korea never disappoints with humor and comedic timing no matter the context lol
I couldn’t agree more!! Not only do I want queer content, but in a full spectrum of genres and contexts! Bc I feel like that normalizes queer content even more? It’s why I particularly love Hayley Kiyoko’s cliffs edge music video bc she took a weird spin to it but it’s still gay as fuck and that’s cool!
Maybe the humor got lost in the German version, but tbh I don't like that movie at all. For me it's a total male view on women. On German TV their voices were quite high pitched and squeaky.And especially this last sex scene? W-T-F. A movie full of mannerisms - the big artsy picture is nearly more important than the story. Ugh - the Fingersmith movie is a thousand times better than this.
They missed the little details the director puts into the movie. Hideko is forced into reading this erotic fiction for older men by her uncle. She hates men for this reason but trusts a con man to get her out. As we know, she and the Korean woman, Sook-Hee, end up falling in love. However, when Sook-Hee doesn’t ask for Hideko to not marry the con man or doesn’t tell her she loves her(Hideko won’t say it first because let’s remember Hideko doesn’t know how to express herself with words. All she knows is abuse) she’s hurt. Thus wanting to kill herself. She was willing to stay in the house and live her miserable life so as long as Sook-Hee stayed with her. Sook-Hee makes her stronger, and they plan away so both of them can get out and be happy. Seeing Sook-Hee tearing up her uncle's expensive library full of erotica was her way of breaking Hideko free of her old life. If you watch closely, one book, which helped Hideko seduce Sook-Hee(I think she realized she loved her, but all she knows is how to express herself through these stupid books she’s been reading her whole life, so she’s kind of f-d up) this book is what they re-enacted at the end of the movie and her first intimate interaction with then younger girl. In the second part, we can tell Hideko is all hot and bothered and reciting this same marbles story. She has read it and enjoyed it so much that she can recite it without reading(her eyes were closed). Anyway, back to where I was, that last scene is Hideko taking ownership of her life and Sook-Hee being supportive of her partner. She understands that her love was exposed to some very graphic reading material and that her love did learn to turn her shitty past into something that she enjoys thus using the bells willingly(which, if you noticed, were used to hit her as a child when she messed up her reading or wasn’t obedient.) A lot of twist and turns that reveal themselves as you watch the movie. There are many subtle hints in the color of the gloves, the stages of the flower, even paintings on the wall. They all hint to the progress in the relationship between the two women and how Hideko feels. Fingersmith is the British version of the movie based on the same book.
Beautifully written, and I can't believe I didn't realized how messed up Hideko had become from the abuse, and her finally being set free at the end by deciding how she uses the bells! This definitely makes me want to rewatch to catch all the details, the subtle clues given to us, and characterization.
Iced Momo Tea you should! Spoilers below on what and where to look for these clues. The painting on the wall of a young Hideko smiles as soon as Sook-hee passes it going up the stairs as she arrives to the house. The doll in Hideko’s room in the glass case also changed. She is alone and then when Sook-Hee arrives, the doll in the glass case gets a helper. Her little doll she sleeps with also changes. I assume she keeps the doll as it’s the only “person” she can really talk to. At first she has the doll all the tome but eventually the doll gets pushed to the side during the intimidate scene. You know, since the doll is now getting replaced. As previously mentioned, the stages of the flower next to her bed. The flower is in sync with their relationship. The early stages until it fully has bloomed. The color of her gloves kind of hint to Hideko’s mood. If she’s nervous, if she’s lying, etc. The amount of food each character eats determines how their faith is going to play out. In The second part(and maybe even the first) Hideko hardly eats as she’s about to get married. She’s nervous. In the third let, the con man is not eating at all and well we all know how that plays out. Hideko caressing Sook-Hee’s elbows throughly he film before intimacy is a little weird but not so if you remember the fact that she doesn’t know how to verbalize things and instead tries to convey messages through body language. There’s a lot of character development too. Sook-Hee, who only agrees to con Hideko for money, later dismissed the coin offered to her by the con man to leave the room as she is drawing. That wasn’t part of the plan. Hideko, who agrees to work with the con man because she wants her freedom, is willing to risk it all for sook-hee. Both women end up almost sacrificing what they want most in the world, for love. Without a doubt, one of my favorite (not just LGBT) films.
Lily Magana must have been sober when you saw this. Lol I completely love the details of this film. It’s a really good fucking film. And the storyline is amazing.
“My savior who came to tear my life apart.” You didn’t include the most beautiful line in the movie. These two women saved each other by destroying their old lives for a better one together.
@@lirianorga7521 Pretty immature reactions from these ladies.. not even understanding the deep layers revealing themselves in the movies.. childish reactions..
The Handmaiden is a perfect case for how beautiful and creative adaptations can be. They took a Dickensian novel set in England between warring classes and instead recontextualised it in Korea, making the differences not only class but ethnically significant. And they also out twisted the source material, which imo, was more satisfying and rewarding. The scene where they destroy the books is utterly spellbinding and incredibly powerful for an abuse survivor and for a girl who grew up uneducated and in poverty.
I also loved the connections between the scenes, like with the bells. And for people who have never read the novel or seen the other film, the twist was really well done. And the cinematography...*sigh* I really wish more filmmakers will do films like this.
This movie is like from the future: it's a lgbt film without the lgbt part being at the forefront. It's just a good love story, that happens to be with women. It's an important theme, yet it's not the only thing important. It's also a masterful drama, a very funny film and an awesome mystery movie. It's genuine with what it shows, never panders and never takes it too far, while still being incredibly bold. Not many movies achieved that in our age, and this is why The handmaiden is a fucking masterpiece.
This is it i know am late but the reason lgbt films don't sell well was because they use lgbt forefront but this film just shows two people being inlove that just happens to be a women.
Fun fact: When they filmed the s3x scenes there was no staff and crew around. The director made everyone leave the room and there's only a remote control cameras so the two actresses can be comfortable in such an intimate scene. The actress (Kim Tae Ri) who played the servant said this in an interview you can google it if you want a source.
I...didn't know I needed this. I've seen this movie SIX times. Yes, SIX times. After the initial shock of how 1) good this film is and 2) the extremely long sex scenes, watching this became like a study in film. The incredible amount of detail, the callbacks--it's impossible to notice in the first viewing or even the second. This film has so many levels and I'm glad there is a freaking reaction video to this now hahahaha.
Lol I’ve seen this video soooo many times cause I miss this show.. and I’ve just realized gd Form of Therapy is in the comments. That’s bloody hilarious. 👀
FINALLY!! you did not see that coming 😂 the bells are a symbol. it is the text hideko read to the nasty men. she is reclaiming that story for her own sexual fantasies far away from the male gaze.
I watched this in cinema with a group of straight friends, and I couldn't look at anyone because I knew they were all thinking thats what every lesbian does.
no joke i literally cried for half an hour straight after watching this movie. it's so rare to see nuanced stories of wlw who actually get happy endings
this was so frickin funny, I was mega embarrassed watching this movie *alone* I'm wondering how the both of you survived asfghjkl. please watch Thelma next!
I'm a gay man, so durig the sex scenes I was like "Aw, that's sweet". But this movies has so many powerful moments as it is. I remember I almost cried when she destroyed the scrolls.
Amanda and Ashley being fascinated and kind of confused watching a seven minutes sex scene together😄 Drunk lesbians watch is getting out of hand😂😂 I love it!
One thing I got with rewatching it few times for me to get into the little details. Hideko knew already she’s into women when she was reading that erotic book of 2 women where the lights went off? And she recited it with her eyes closed, it means, she’s been reading it over and over for her to memorize already. So, that’s one thing. And with Sook Hee? She knew she likes her but not realizing that she truly likes her in the beginning, til that sex happened out of her sexual fantasy thru by reading those fckng books, there she somewhat realized she doesn’t want her to leave her bc it made her live in that hell somewhat better, the very reason she asked her to never leave her and where she said, it would be amazing for Sook Hee to be by her side. The scene in the library? That was the time Hideko realized everything that there’s such a thing called “true love”, her face, her tears when she was looking at Sook Hee in raged with all the erotic books and finding out what she has been doing at that cellar, and her dialogue on that? Just too powerful, that was when she realized they both need to escape for them to be happy and that portrayed the next scene where they ran happily.
If you want to watch "spooky" well supernatural, then there's always the movie Thelma. A college student starts to experience extreme seizures while studying at a university in Oslo, Norway. She soon learns that the violent episodes are a symptom of inexplicable, and often dangerous, supernatural abilities. ..and gay stuff :)
Park Chan-Wook is an incredible filmmaker and you should definitely check out some of his other films. Also, imagine watching this at the theater with your mom sat next to you. At least, it was dark. Lol. I love 'The Handmaiden'. It might be graphic, but it's so much more than that. It's an achingly beautiful film. I love the score and I love the unapologetic heroines of the film. Both adaptations of Sarah Waters' 'Fingersmith' are worth your time. 🌈 Thanks for creating these very entertaining reactions. I always look forward to them 😊
for everyone thats wondering its based on a book called fingersmith , it has 2 movies based on it , one english movie and a korean japanese movie , this one is the korean japanese one
It's just korean movie made by a korean director based on the english novel😑😑 Nothing is related to japan except that the background of the movie is during the japanese occupation. Japan colonized Korea illegally and did lots of terrible things including compelling to change names into japnese. That's why all of the characters have two names like Sook Hee and Tamako.
"Korean always mimic everything"[sic]!! LOL Obviously, like most weaboo Japanophiles you know nothing of Japan's real history -- particularly of copy/pasting the cultures of China, Korea and the West through the centuries. That's O.K., serious thinking should be left to grownups anyway :P
Movie Requests: The Secret Diaries of Miss Anne Lister 2010 - The Miseducation of Cameron Post 2018 - Tipping the Velvet 2002 - Fingersmith 2005 - Out at the Wedding 2007 - Better Than Chocolate 1999 - Gia 1998 TV Requests: Lost Girl 2010-2016 - The L Word 2004-2009
I just want to say that this is my favorite of the Drunk Lesbians Watch series! I return to this review ever so often just so I can relive it. There’s something so genuinely hilarious about your reactions in the first half. Initially neither of you were really into the movie movie just the gay stuff but by the 5:30 mark you can see how invested in the story y’all get. And then after the twist omg. This review was great I was really waiting back then for you guys to finally get around to arguably the best lesbian movie around (sorry D.E.B.S) but this video was hilarious in its own way. During the really terrible world situation right now, I find myself coming back to this video for some much needed familiar comfort and let me tell you, this still holds up. Oh to go back in time and watch this for the first time again!
For those of you who need subtitles for what Ashly and Amanda say during the movie, it mostly consisted of: Wow...... wow..... ok....what.... wow.... OMG WHAT!?.... WOW! OH MY GOD ARE THEY!?.... wow... NOT THE BELLS!!!!
Okay now I have to go watch this! Also when Amanda said that comment about the crush I immediately thought "That wouldn't happen if you dated me Amanda!"
Ive seen several interviews with the actresses and they seemed fine and loved making the film? But who rly knows what goes behind closed doors, i still adore that movie though. The acting is phenomenal
The acting might be good but basically the film is much more of the sex, so porno like, that it's not a good representation for the lesbians too. I've also heard that the actresses were not very comfortable with some of the scenes they had to do/ were forced to do.
The Count did plan to con the Handmaiden, but during the reading, he realized that Hideko is a raging lesbian, so he proposes to put her new servant (Sook-hee) in the mental institution after they marry so she will be free from her uncle, and he will get half her money. It's a win-win in his eyes. Hideko was never the naive rich heiress though, but ends up falling for Sook-hee, so after some drama, she tells her the plan and the pull a reverse uno card on the Count instead. They get the money, Hideko gets a new identity (and gets to act out her fantasy at the end), and they both get to live happily ever after.
I really liked this movie, the way the director frame each emotion and hard hitting moment is focused between the characters eyes, whether it's passion, sadness, or genuinety, you can truly know someone and their character between their eyes as love as eye contact is to a unspoken love language.
I watched this movie with my two parents. Because my mom thought it was Parasite and because i love Korea she was like "Hey i bought a korean movie that seems really popular, we can watch it all together !" 🥰. I am also lesbian but they didn't know that. I had to act embarassed in front of the s3x scenes like i usually do during straight s3x scenes. Lol. What a strange night it was.
I watched this movie with a bunch of friends in the common room of my dorm before Christmas break and it was one of the most surreal bonding moment I have ever experienced
I think Ashly being in this reaction video really helped for us to understand the context and history. Hard to digest a movie about another unfamiliar history without research and hence spoilers prior
FINALLY. Thank you so much, this was entertaining as hell. I really do love this film though cause like you said, it's a well-made lesbian film so I'm really happy you finally got to do it.
I died laughing at your reactions, you were blushing so hard, aaahahahahah! Despite being too long, I like it more than Fingersmith, filmography and depth of the story are on another level.
I don't know how this movie affects actresses in Korea because of their conservative culture, but I love these actresses! the naturalness with which they did the sex scenes
PLEASE see Juliana and Valentina (Juliantina's) storyline. It's from a mexican series called "Amar a Muerte" and it's just the CUTEST story ever and it's fully available here on RU-vid with English subtitles!
OMG, you had me laughing so much at your reactions to this one!! A 'straight' work colleague of mine asked me if I wanted to see this film at the cinema and I agreed without bothering to read the synopsis. ....So it became quite embarrassing during the sex scenes. Also at some point, it may have been the bath scene when the Handmaiden is filing her mistress' (Hideko?) tooth, I started to think it seemed familiar. So I asked my friend if the plot rang a bell with her. She said no, but the more I watched, I realised I had seen something similar. Gradually it dawned on me it was based on Sarah Waters' novel, Fingersmith (I'd read the book years ago and seen the BBC adaptation)! This one, the Handmaiden, was a beautiful version though.
This is the Korean version of a Lesbian novel called fingersmith by Sarah waters which was also turned into an movie with Sally Hawkins!! Watch that because it’s awesome but also you’ll see the story is exactly EXACTLY the same (down to the thimble to wear down a sharp tooth!!) xx
I had to watch this film in a Sexuality in Cinema class in college in a CLASSROOM and was suuuuper uncomfortable xD But in all seriousness, this is a great film with a wild twisty story that had me hooked the entire time.
Aw.. I wanted more commentary. It was one of the most amazing artwork ever done which is also lesbians as lead actors with a happy ending. Come on!! I don't think any lesbian movie can beat this storyline so far.
yas omfg i only watched the movie a week ago and i really hoped you did an episode about it and you actually did, made me so happy 😁 the handmaiden is hands down one of the best movies ive ever seen
