The Housemaid (2010-South Korea)

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Movie: The Housemaid
Revised romanization: Hanyeo
Hangul: 하녀
Director: Im Sang-Soo
Writer: Im Sang-Soo, Kim Ki-Young
Producer: Chae Hee-Seung, Kim Jin-Seob
Cinematographer: Lee Hyeong-Deok
Release Date: May 13, 2010
Runtime: 106 in.
Distributor: Sidus Pictures
Language: Korean
Country: South Korea

Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

A wealthy husband has an affair with his housemaid (Jeon Do-Yeon). Because of this, everyone in the family will suffer ....

Notes

Remake of the 1960 film "The Housemaid".
Im Sang-Soo started preparation for "The Housemaid" since early 2009.
Scenario has been completed as of October 19th, 2009.
Filming will begin in December 2009, once casting has finished.
In a reversal of the original film, 37 year old actress Jeon Do-Youn will play the nanny (equivalent to the original film's housemaid) and 22 year old actress Seo Woo will perform as the wife.
Filming will begin in January and finish sometime in March. Production company then hopes to submit the film to various international film festivals.
During the Cannes Film Festival, movie distributor Mirovision sold "The Housemaid" to Greece (AMA Film), Hong Kong (Edko Films), Singapore (Festive Films) and Thailand (M Pictures). The film was also presold to Pretty Pictures for France prior to the Cannes Film Market.[1]
Related titles:
1. The Housemaid | Hanyeo (1960)

Cast



Jeon Do-Yeon	Lee Jung-Jae	Seo Woo	Park Ji-Young	Youn Yuh-Jung
Eun-Yi	Hoon	Hae-Ra	Hae-Ra's mother	Byeong-Sik

Additional Cast Members:

Hwang Jung-Min - Eun-Yi's friend
Ahn Seo-Hyun - Na-Mi (daughter)
Moon So-Ri - doctor
Lim Hyun-Kyung - yoga instructor
Jeon Shin-Hwan - Secretary Hoon

Trailers

Image Gallery

Film Festivals

2010 (63rd) Cannes Film Festival - May 12-23, 2010 - Competition
2010 (35th) Toronto International Film Festival - September 9-19, 2010 - Galas Presentations *North American Premiere
2011 (9th) New York Korean Film Festival - September 20-October 3, 2010
2010 (6th) Fantastic Fest - September 23-30, 2010
2010 (15th) Pusan International Film Festival - October 7-15, 2010 - Korean Cinema Today: Panorama
2010 (43rd) Sitges Film Festival - October 7-14, 2010 - Official Fantàstic in compettition
2010 (30th) Hawaii International Film Festival - October 14-24, 2010 - Spotlight on Korea *United States Premiere
2010 (19th) Philadelphia Film Festival - October 14-24, 2010 - Masters of Cinema
2010 (24th) AFI FEST - October 28-November 5, 2010
2010 (5th) The London Korean Film Festival - November 5-23, 2010
2010 (12th) Cinemanila International Film Festival - December 1-5, 2010
2011 (31st) Fantasporto International Film Festival - February 21-March 6, 2011 - Semana dos Realizadores 2011 (Competition)
2011 (6th) Osaka Asian Film Festival - March 5-13, 2011 - Special Screenings *Opening Filmv/ Japan Premiere
2011 (4th) Off Plus Camera International Festival of Independent Cinema - April 8-17, 2011 - Busan IFF Presents: New Asian Cinema

Awards

2010 (47th) Daejong Film Awards - October 29, 2010
- "Best Supporting Actress" (Youn Yuh-Jung)
2010 (30th) Critics Choice Awards - November 8, 2010
- "Best Music" (Kim Hong-Jip)
2010 (8th) Korean Film Awards - November 18, 2010
- "Best Supporting Actress" (Youn Yuh-Jung)
2010 (31st) Blue Dragon Film Awards - November 26, 2010
- "Best Supporting Actress" (Youn Yuh-Jung)
- "Best Art Direction"
2010 (12th) Cinemanila International Film Festival - December 1-5 , 2010
- "Best Director"
- "Best Actress" (Youn Yuh-Jung)
2011 (31st) Fantasporto International Film Festival - February 21-March 6, 2011
- "Directors Week Best Film Award – Manoel De Oliveira Award"
- "Best Actor" (Lee Jung-Jae)
- "Best Actress" (Jeon Do-Youn)
2011 (5th) Asian Film Awards - March 21, 2011
- "Best Supporting Actress" (Youn Yuh-Jung)

Comments

Kristine Jul 25 2024 12:34 am Yes the ending was in the opening scene. But why were they outside in the snow? The kid acted great. How could they? I kinda wanted the husband to kill the MIL. The elder maid culpable. Abortion was illegal at the time how could they force one so easily? I first thought maybe she would take a kid from them taking hers. Then I thought maybe the husband would keep her on the side but away from the house? Where did the first come from? Who would have thought the squid game guy was the rich one in this? But here is the real question. Why are any of the help in that house of childbearing age? Why have any full time help after that? Just have a service come in now and then. Thank you iTunes for carrying it. It was entertaining. Didn’t see the original.

tom4395 Sep 18 2012 10:52 am I liked all the actresses and the actor. The film had it's moments. The ending in the house was a bit disappointing. The final ending was too contrived. But I did enjoy the film overall and as I said mostly for the acting.

Belle Sep 09 2012 1:49 pm Love this movie!! Does anyone know where I can get the soundtrack??:)

Gasenadi Mar 27 2012 3:08 pm Streamed this movie on Netflix. Actually, the ending was foreshadowed in the opening scenes. It was unexpected at first, but when recalling the beginning of the movie, it "made sense".

robert schwartz Jan 29 2011 11:00 am You don't state where this movie is (or will be) playing. The result: a useless review.

Ki Jun 17 2010 2:38 am Got a chance to catch this at a cinema in Seoul with English subtitles. The remake of "The Housemaid" differs significantly from the original - which isn't necessarily a bad thing for a remake. With that said Im Sang-Soo's "The Housemaid" is a pretty slick thriller, don't expect high art or anything. Acting all around is top-notch. Jeon Do-Yeon plays the main character of "the housemaid" in a mostly low key naive character very well - personally didn't watch something like "Secret Sunshine" again. The rest were all solid with veteran actress Yun Yeo-Jong's head housemaid role being the most dynamic and consequently interesting. Outside of a seriously bizarre finale the movie kept me chomping on my fingernails throughout the movie. The movie also looks great in a polished modern way - no bourgeoisie setting like the original, the family in this one is loaded.

Some interesting things I noted ...

1.) The handful of sex scenes in the Housemaid remake is surprisingly graphic. I read in a few Korean mags that main actor Lee Jung-Jae was reluctant with some of his lines due to the graphical nature. This may or may not be pertinent to the movie but the two scenes with Lee Jung-Jae in sexual (receiving fellatio) positions surely recalled Leonardo Da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" positition - symbolic of a type of renaissance man?

2.) Lots of symbolic / foreshadowing thrown around like Jeon Do-Yeon changing into black uniform when shit was going to hit the roof or the ominous fire burning in the furnace in the background.

Mr. N Jun 01 2010 3:49 pm I can't wait to go see this movie.

Netsuke May 13 2010 8:24 am Link to the French press Kit (Cannes 2010)

http://www.festival-cannes.com/assets/Image/Direct/033779.pdf

aparna Oct 20 2009 4:39 am The Housemaid (1963) aslo starting Ah Sung-ki as young son

References

The Housemaid cleans up for Mirovision, "Screen Daily", May 18, 2010.

The Housemaid (2010-South Korea)

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Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©

Notes

Cast

Trailers

Image Gallery

Film Festivals

Awards

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