'The Handmaiden (Mademoiselle)' - Red Carpet Arrivals - The 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival (Photo : Getty Images)
Korean drama continues to rule global cinemas and television. After the resounding success of “Descendants of the Sun” in China and South Korea, and eventually to more than 100 countries, a Korean erotic thriller is breaking the country’s film records.
"The Handmaiden" was sold to movie distributors in 175 countries, reported Korea Times. The erotic thriller by director Park Chan-wook broke the record previously held by “Showpiercer.” The movie, directed by Bong Joon-ho, was sold to distributors in 167 nations.
With “The Handmaiden’s” premiere at the recent 69th Cannes Film Festival, the movie added 55 more buyers since it has been pre-booked to 120 countries before the festival. It is in Korean language and all actors are Korean.
The pre-selling was done during the European Film Market. According to Hollywood Reporter, among the countries where “The Handmaiden” – described as a lesbian thriller – would be distributed are the U.S., Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong/Macau, Australia/New Zealand, Mongolia, Turkey, Poland, Czech Republic/Slovakia, Hungary, Greece/Cyprus, Latin America, German-speaking territories and French-speaking territories.
The movie, set in colonial Korea and Japan in the 1930s, starts Kim Min-hee, Jin-woong, Ha Jung-woo and Kim Tae-ri. Its story revolves around a young female pickpocket hired by a con man to help seduce a rich heiress, but the con man ends up falling in love with her.
