When discussing the greatest films of the 21st century, few titles inspire as much passionate discourse as The Handmaiden . Directed by the visionary South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook ( Oldboy , Lady Vengeance ), (2016) is not merely a movie; it is a labyrinth of the soul. It is a sumptuous, violent, erotic, and breathtakingly clever thriller that redefines the boundaries of period cinema.