Despite putting Korean cinema on the global map, Park Chan-wook’s Oscar cabinet sits empty. While some might argue he should’ve nabbed the win for Oldboy or his last acclaimed release, Decision to Leave, and rightfully so, arguably his biggest shot at Best Picture was 2016’s The Handmaiden, which displays the auteur at his highest prowess, which is saying something.
Unfortunately, South Korea picked The Age of Shadows over the acclaimed thriller romance as their submission for the Oscars, and as it goes, the former didn’t even make past the shortlist. Had Chan-wook’s work not been overlooked, it might’ve earned him the accolade.
The Handmaiden Outdoes Oldboy in Subverting Expectations
Among movie nerds, the Korean auteur is notable for his knack for meticulously crafted violence and the intricate twists, exemplified immaculately in Oldboy.
While the 2003 thriller takes the cake in terms of violence, his 2016 adaptation of Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith is woven with twists across all three acts. The movie challenges audiences with its non-linear approach to the story, as characters aren’t quite what they initially appear to be.
For instance, Kim Tae-ri, who plays Sook-Hee, a naive maid, turns out to be a con-artist, who’s revealed to be working with Ha Jung-woo’s Count Fujiwara to deceive Kim Min-hee’s Lady Hideko to inherit her wealth. This isn’t the end of it, as later it’s revealed that Hideko is working with Fujiwara, only for Fujiwara to be double-crossed by Lady Hideko and Sook-Hee.
But at the thriller’s center lies a beautiful tale of forbidden love between the master and her handmaiden, which is on brand for Chan-wook, who often embeds topics considered taboo by some into his stories. At no point, the moments of intimacy feel gratuitous onscreen.
Considering the director originally intended JSA to incorporate gay romance instead of the brotherhood, the LGBTQIA+ representation seems a full-circle moment for Chan-wook.
No Other Choice Could Finally End Park Chan-wook’s Oscar Drought
While it’s a shame The Handmaiden was completely ignored by the Academy, which doesn’t undermine its brilliance by any means, the auteur has entertained the prospect of Oscar recognition for No Other Choice (via 10 Asia)..
Currently standing as one of the highest-rated movies of the year, which will hit the US theatres during Christmas, the movie, despite stiff competition this year, has the potential to repeat Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite.
If it gets nominated, it means several months of intense activity, starting a ‘race to the death’. At my age, I think it would be nice if it happens.
Although things won’t be easy, given the line-up, which includes Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, and PTA’s most ambitious movie to date, hopefully, Chan-wook won’t return empty-handed next year. At the very least, South Korea didn’t drop the ball this time by not submitting it for the Oscars.
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The Handmaiden is currently available to stream on Apple TV (USA).
No Other Choice will open in select theatres on Christmas (USA).
