According to The Korea Times, the Korea Film Archive and 240 film industry professionals recently revealed their selection of the greatest films of all time, and “The Housemaid” was included in the list.
The original version of “The Housemaid”was released in 1960. In 2010, it was remade with the cast of Jeon Do-yeon, Lee Jung-jae, and Seo Woo.
In “The Housemaid,”we learn about the unfortunate life of Eun-yi, a diligent and dedicated young woman who is employed as a housemaid by a wealthy family. Despite only recently being hired, Eun-yi quickly adapts to her new surroundings and flawlessly carries out all of her duties, including caring for the couple’s daughter, Na-mi, and preparing their meals.
Eun-yi’s life takes a dramatic turn when she catches the eye of Hoon, her wealthy employer. Their illicit relationship leads to Eun-yi becoming pregnant with Hoon’s child. Once Hoon’s mother-in-law discovers their affair through another servant, Byeong-shik, she joins forces with Hoon’s wife Hae-ra and Byeong-shik to plot the demise of Eun-yi and her unborn child. Despite witnessing the cruelty inflicted upon her, Hoon remains indifferent and fails to protect Eun-yi. Eventually, Eun-yi makes the heart-wrenching decision to end her own life by setting herself on fire in front of the very people who caused her downfall.
Despite containing many provocative scenes, the 19+ movie “The Housemaid”sheds light on the topic of a love affair and its effects in a money-driven society. It forces viewers to confront the reality that money has the power to conceal even the most immoral and corrupt actions.
It has been 14 years since the release of the remake of “The Housemaid,”and the main actors have undergone significant changes as well.
After her portrayal of Eun-yi in the remake of “The Housemaid,”Jeon Do-yeon quickly rose to fame and established herself as one of the top stars in the Korean film industry. This role not only earned her numerous prestigious awards, including Best Actress at The Blue Dragon Film Awards and Cannes, but also solidified her position in the industry. Despite the passing of her prime, Jeon Do-yeon remains highly regarded as a dependable and talented actress, constantly putting in hard work and dedication to her craft.
In the previous year, Jeon Do-yeon starred in the drama “Crash Course in Romance”as a middle-aged single mother who unexpectedly falls in love, garnering praise from viewers. This year, she is anticipated to make her comeback on the silver screen with the action thriller “Revolver”, where she will co-star with Lim Ji-yeon and Ji Chang-wook.
Lee Jung-jae, who played the role of Hoon in “The Housemaid”, was already a renowned actor before the film’s release. In 1999, he had won the Best Actor award at the Blue Dragon Film Awards, solidifying his stardom. Despite his prime period from 1998 to 2006, his performances from 2006 to 2009 were not as impactful. However, with the release of “The Housemaid”in 2010, Lee Jung-jae’s career saw another peak. He went on to star in numerous blockbuster hits such as “The Thieves”, “Assassination”, “Operation Chromite”, “Along with the Gods”, “Deliver Us from Evil
The reunion of Lee Jung-jae and Jeon Do-yeon in 2024 is eagerly anticipated by movie fans. Additionally, the actor has officially announced his cameo role in Jeon Do-yeon’s upcoming film “Revolver”.
Lee Jung-jae achieved great success with the drama “Squid Game”. As the show gained worldwide popularity, Lee Jung-jae received multiple prestigious awards, including Baeksang, Blue Dragon, Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy Award, and more.
In 2010, Seo Woo’s performances in “The Housemaid”and “Cinderella’s Sister”left a lasting impression on the public with her exceptional acting skills and captivating appearance. Two years later, she further solidified her talents by taking on the leading role in “Glass Mask,”earning recognition and praise from drama enthusiasts.
Despite the potential for even greater fame, Seo Woo’s career in the Korean film industry abruptly ended after only three years. Her excessive use of plastic surgery led to constant changes in her appearance, causing her to lose her natural beauty and no longer receive offers from producers. Since 2015, she has not appeared in any dramas and has only made occasional guest appearances on entertainment programs. In 2019, she starred in the movie “The House”but it failed to garner much attention.
Leave a Reply