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| (Yonhap) |
The 2016 Cannes Film Festival kicked off on May 11 and renowned South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook’s new erotic, yet lurid masterpiece “The Handmaiden”-- based on Welsh lesbian novel, “Fingersmith” by Sarah Waters -- was the reason why Theatre Lumiere was filled with a thunderous applause on Saturday.
The film was selected officially by the festival to compete for its highest cinematic award, Palme d’Or.
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| (Yonhap) |
Park along with the cast, basked in the limelight post screen time -- as the crowd saluted with a standing ovation for five full minutes. Along with its viewers, the foreign press and critics lauded the film.
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| (Yonhap) |
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| (Yonhap) |
Among its fans were American media platform, the Hollywood Reporter which reported, “After making his English-language debut with the disappointing ‘Stoker’ in 2013, the South Korean auteur is returning to his boundary-pushing roots with the erotic thriller.”
“The Handmaiden” is Park’s second attempt to vie for a prize at the festival -- the director’s symbolic and most recognized work, “Oldboy” took home the Grand Prix at 2004 Cannes Film Festival.
The film is scheduled for nationwide release in Korea on June 1.
By Jung Min-kyung (mkj1105@heraldcorp.com)
