Chippenham Film Club - June 2026 Screening 'The Handmaiden' (18)

Chippenham Film Club has two screenings in June 2026, in conjunction with the Pride In Chippenham PrideFest.

The first is 'The Handmaiden' a 2016 South Korean erotic historical psychological thriller film directed, co-written and co-produced by Park Chan-Wook. It was nominated for a Palm d’ Or and Queer Palm in 2016, and won a BAFTA in 2018 Best Film Not in the English Language. The film has appeared on many lists of the greatest films of the 21st century, and since its release has been regarded as one of Park's finest works.

Set in 1930s Korea, during the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Lady Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering uncle. But the maid, Sookee, has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to elope with him, rob her of her fortune, and lock her up in a madhouse. The plan seems to proceed according to plan until Sookee and Hideko discover some unexpected emotions.

The film starts at 7.30pm om Tuesday June 9th. Anyone can book tickets, but if you purchase a membership you receive a 35% discount of all screenings - 26/27 memberships are just being renewed