Based on Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith (transplanted from Victorian Britain to 1930s Japanese-occupied Korea), the film follows a complex con: A young pickpocket named Sook-hee is hired as a handmaiden to a wealthy Japanese heiress, Lady Hideko, as part of a plot to defraud her. But the narrative twists through three parts, each reframing the audience’s understanding of love, betrayal, and liberation.

The Korean Extended Cut (running approximately 168 minutes, about 20 minutes longer than the international version) restores key scenes that deepen the erotic and emotional bond between Sook-hee and Hideko. These additions include:

Note: The extended cut is not simply “more explicit” – it’s more character-driven. Film critics often call it the superior version.

| Version | Runtime | Notable Differences | |--------|---------|----------------------| | Theatrical Cut | ~145 min | Standard release; tighter pacing. | | Extended/Director’s Cut | ~168 min | Restores ~23 min of footage – more backstory, character moments, and explicit scenes (sex/violence extended, but also psychological depth). |

The extended cut was released in South Korea and on some international Blu-rays/DVDs (e.g., from CJ Entertainment or Curzon Artificial Eye in the UK).