The Housemaid..

"The Housemaid" is a remake of the 1960's Korean film of the same name. Director of the 2010 version Im Sang-soo, was a guest at the premier of his film at the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF) last night. The film as I had understood it was one of revenge however the revenge came later in the film than expected...

"The Housemaid" is about a young woman Eun-Yi who secures a job as the new live-in nanny/housemaid for an affluent family in South Korea. Working with the older and cynical housemaid Byeong-Sik, the new nanny is lured into an affair of sort's with the master of the house, Hoon. The affair results in Eun-Yi becoming pregnant and it's during the course of these events that we see the true nature of the housemaid's employer and extended family. Revenge they say is usually sweet but it's hard to consider this in light of the event's that subsequently take place in the Hoon household.

The film is set in an opulent Korean mansion and Hoon's wife Hae-ra and mother-in-law show all the signs of Western influence in their dress,appearance and ideal's. The final scene of the film is spoken in English and is a David Lynch inspired moment that show's the impact of past event's on Hoon and Hae-ra's own daughter, Nami.

As director Im Sang-soo states, his films are an anthropological exploration of the changing culture in South Korea. He doesn't intend to judge his characters and their behavior but as a viewer of the film it is difficult not to do so. The Hoon family are firm believer's that money can solve any problem which is evident in the way that they treat the housemaid and it also brings power as Hae-ra's mother emphasises in a scene where they discuss Hoon's infidelity.

This film is a chilling account of the rich and powerful in South Korea and their total disregard for the lower classes of society.

- A thriller that will shock in it's final moment's.

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