virag's movie reviews: the housemaid (2010, south korea)

the housemaid sat itself down on my dvr, and i gave it a shot knowing it would probably be a nice change of pace from lame canadian melodrama.  it is a wonderful, superbly-crafted absurdist black comedy.  the plot is fairly disjointed, but the extremely subtle acting and comic tone make the film fun.  given that it is a sub-titled film, the translation may be a bit less than ideal at times, so you count on the set-pieces to illuminate some of the comedy.  the portrayal of the family is hilarious, and the dialog is almost over the top.  even if the motivations are not always well-considered, the last scene is so gloriously funny that it makes you want to watch the film again and again.  plus, the two lead actresses are extraordinarily beautiful, and that's always a benefit as well.  great movie, lots of fun, very funny and keeps you interested to the last laugh.