The Handmaiden and the Historical Context of the Japanese Occupation of Korea
March 18
Donald Jellerson, associate professor, Literature, Writing, and Film
In 2016, Park Chan-wook directed The Handmaiden, a film produced by CJ Entertainment and sold for international distribution by Amazon Studios. The film was a global success. In this lecture, Film Studies Associate Professor Donald Jellerson reflects on why a film set in the era of the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945) was so well-received on the international stage. What does the film convey that is not only unique to Korean history but also universal enough to speak to audiences around the world? What do those of us who are not experts in Asian histories need to know about the particular history of Korea to better understand and appreciate the message of the film? And what does all this tell us about South Korea as a nation to watch for the emergence of new and brilliant cinematic artists such as Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho?
Lectures will be held on Mondays at 3 p.m. in the Olm Fellowship Hall of Fairhaven Senior Services, 435 West Starin Road, Whitewater. They are open to the public and registration is not required. Lectures may be recorded and posted to our Fairhaven Lecture website and YouTube channel. Videos of lectures in this series and in past series can be accessed for free any time after they are posted online.
Follow us on social media for more information. Any other questions, please contact Kari Borne at bornek@uww.edu or 262-472-1003.
