The Housemaid

1960/Korea/108min./Provided by Japan Foundation
Director: Kim Ki-young
Cast: Kim Jin Kyu, Ju Jeung-nyeo, Lee Eun-shim

A maid is hired by a well-to-do family. After the master has an affair with the maid, the family’s nightmares begin… Kim Ki-young, a unique filmmaker called “the monster” in Korean film world, created a huge sensation at that time with this portrayal of a femme fatale who ruins a family. Kim always dealt with human egoism in his works. “The Housemaid” is both the the seminal work and the pinnacle of his film world. The film actually received higher acclaim than Ozu Yasujiro’s “Late Autumn” at the Asia Film Festival in Manila in 1961. Kim died in an accidental fire on February 5, 1998. The OAFF 2011 opening film, “The Housemaid,” is a remake of this film.A maid is hired by a well-to-do family. After the master has an affair with the maid, the family’s nightmares begin… Kim Ki-young, a unique filmmaker called “the monster” in Korean film world, created a huge sensation at that time with this portrayal of a femme fatale who ruins a family. Kim always dealt with human egoism in his works. “The Housemaid” is both the the seminal work and the pinnacle of his film world. The film actually received higher acclaim than Ozu Yasujiro’s “Late Autumn” at the Asia Film Festival in Manila in 1961. Kim died in an accidental fire on February 5, 1998. The OAFF 2011 opening film, “The Housemaid,” is a remake of this film.