I’ve just concluded the third day of the Melbourne International Film Festival with three films, but there is still a long way to go!

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The Housemaid [South Korea]

Unfortunately I cannot draw comparisons with the original that this film was remade upon, but thanks to a Q&A with the director, I was elaborated on the differences that he decided to incorporate.

The story tells of a newly hired housemaid into a rich family’s home. Everything seems perfect until she begins an sexual affair with the husband, which leads into a dangerous game of secrets and truths between all the members of the household.

I have to commend the director of the film, Im Sang-soo, for an amazing job. Much of the camera work is so perfectly placed that it sets the scale of the house in it’s entirety, but also delivers some really dramatic moments, and clearly showing the contrast of all the relationships between the characters. There is a defined sense of differentiation between the classes, but also between the generations.

Each cast member shared the limelight, but I have to say that the older housemaid was exceptional; Her timing and ability to play the right part alongside her co-stars hit me in the all the right spots. I was laughing one moment with her wit, but also sympathetic to her deeper emotions living in an upper class household.

I might add that the final scenes are surprising to say the least (and at first a little confusing), and for those of you that pick the references to the final events will understand a deeper meaning in the scope of the film.

It has been the top of my list thus far at the MIFF!

Score: 5 out 5

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