S Korean Film "The Handmaiden" Adapted from "Fingersmith"

A story is all about the journey.  And, you can't kid a kidder.  This sumptuous film is directed by award winning  S Korean  Park Chan-wook (b 1963.)  Chan-wook also wrote the screenplay adapted from Welsch writer Sarah Waters' (b 1966) novel "Fingersmith."  I'd describe this lovely to look at but discomforting film as sensual, erotic, brutal, mysterious, unexpected & exceptional.  Except, this is not made for the faint of heart or a prudish public.  The handsome and talented leads are all S Korean actors of immense talent.  The story is told as an overlying triptych meant to trick you.  You may think you know what plot twists will exist. Don't be so sure.  Lying to a liar extraordinare is never a fait accompli.  The Japanese/Korean language film with English subtitles swops tongues continuously.  The tale is in part Dickens' "Oliver Twist," part Bronte's "Jane Eyre" and has steamy scenes as seen in the French film "Blue is the Warmest Color." "Shades of Gray" is a pale comparison.  Mainly, the movie carves out its own class.  Sookie (Kim Tae-ri) is an artful dodger; an orphaned pickpocket under the tutelage of conniving conman, "Count" (Ha Jung-woo.)  The Count schemes in collusion with Sookie to snare the wealthy heiress, Lady Hideko (a scintillating Kim Min-hee) into marriage out from under her cruel & depraved uncle.  The old man has his own mendacious plans to wed his niece.  This is the least of his more devious distractions.  Lady Hideko has had a life of privilege albeit imprisoned in the majestic manor.  Once Sookie is entrenched as handmaiden to the Lady the movie becomes a sensual & surprising game of cat & mouse & cad culled in a manipulative, menage a trois.   "The Handmaiden" could stand alone on its voluptuous visions.  There's an aesthetic abundance to become enraptured with in the film.  I recommend this disquieting film,"The Handmaiden." It elicits a rich, tactile response that grabs you.