Director Park Chan-wook says he doesn't set out to be provocative with his new film, Agassi

Record ID: 103542

  • Title: Director Park Chan-wook says he doesn't set out to be provocative with his new film, Agassi
  • Date: 15th May 2016
  • Summary: CANNES, FRANCE (MAY 15, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) DIRECTOR, PARK CHAN-WOOK, SAYING: (TRANSLATION PROVIDED BY ON SITE TRANSLATOR) "This period in Korean history is where the idea of class structure still remained but at the same time its a period in Korean history where such a modern institute as a mental asylum has been introduced. So in transposing the original novel to take place in Korea, this is the only time period where the story could take place, but when it comes to the subject of Korean modernism it is something that has been forced upon Korea. Where for hundreds of years Korea has been giving culture to the Japanese the role is reversed during the Japanese occupation period where Korea went through modernity."
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2016 20:35
  • Keywords: Agassi The Handmaiden Park Chan-wook Cannes Palme d'Or
  • Location: CANNES, FRANCE
  • Reuters ID: LVA0054HX3KNH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Director Park Chan Wook said on Sunday (May 15) that he doesn't set out to be provocative and that he hopes audiences like the sex scenes in his lesbian intrigue thriller, Agassi (The Handmaiden).
    The Handmaiden revolves around a complex plot to defraud a rich heiress of her fortune, but things become complicated when the heiress and the handmaiden sent to defraud her fall in love.
    With sexual fetish, torture and the occasional glimmer of humour, the film bears all the hallmarks of a Park film.
    "It's not a thing for me to be worried about. If anything I hope the audience will like it. I didn't set out to show something that is very provocative but these scenes are there as a means of expressing the characters emotions and love of each other through their actions in a beautiful way and that was very important for me."
    Adapted from the Sarah Waters novel Fingersmith, Park changes the original British Victorian setting to Korea during 1930s Japanese colonial rule.
    "This period in Korean history is where the idea of class structure still remained but at the same time its a period in Korean history where such a modern institute as a mental asylum has been introduced. So in transposing the original novel to take place in Korea this is the only time period where the story could take place," said Park.
    With Agassi, Park finds himself in contention for the Palme d'Or, for the third time, though the Korean director has yet to scoop the coveted prize.
    Park is regarded by many as the most internationally-renowned Korean director, and he is positive about the film industry in his homeland.
    "Korean cinema is in a good state and it's getting better and better. There was a time when films like Old Boy and Memories of Murder were getting made, then there was time when the more commercial films got made in Korea. But now in terms of balance between the different type of films we're in a good place. And looking at trends there's a number of interesting films coming out and it looks like that trend is here to stay."
    The film had its premiere in Cannes on Saturday (May 14).
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