The combination of director Park Chan-wook with a powerhouse cast—Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, and Yum Hye-ran—has resulted in one of the year's most anticipated films. At a press conference on September 22 in Seoul, Park and his cast showcased No Choice, a biting satire of sudden unemployment that runs a gripping 139 minutes.
A Black Comedy with Brutal Realism
No Choice tells the story of Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), an ordinary breadwinner who is abruptly fired. In desperation, he embarks on a bloody path, eliminating rivals in a ruthless bid to secure new employment. Park described the narrative as "a story of self-destruction, where the protagonist erases fragments of himself one by one," likening it to an insect eating away at leaves.
The film highlights how characters mirror and depend on one another. Man-su's wife Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin) serves as his emotional anchor, while his rivals Beom-mo (Lee Sung-min), Shi-jo (Cha Seung-won), and Seon-chul (Park Hee-soon) all share his background as paper industry experts who have also been laid off. Even their addictions and family struggles echo one another.
A Stark Contrast to Decision to Leave
Park admitted to feeling the pressure following the acclaim of Decision to Leave. He emphasized his desire to create something drastically different: "If Decision to Leave was poetic, this film is closer to prose. If that was feminine, this is masculine." By tackling the devastation of unemployment and the collapse of male identity, the director confronts themes rarely explored in Korean cinema with such ferocity.
Park also infused moments of humor, notably a chaotic sequence set to Cho Yong-pil's classic Dragonfly, where a fight devolves into absurdity as voices are drowned out by the music, forcing exaggerated gestures and comic misunderstandings.
Stellar Performances Across the Board
Lee Byung-hun once again proves his transformative ability, embodying a believable middle-aged father pushed to extremes. Son Ye-jin impresses with nuanced emotional depth, whether quarreling with her husband, wrestling with painful secrets, or breaking down during a video call. Lee praised Son's instinctive acting, while she expressed awe at his ability to perform with total relaxation.
Supporting performances add further texture: Park Hee-soon as the tortured Seon-chul, Lee Sung-min's anguished Beom-mo, and Yum Hye-ran's crocodile tears, which reveal unexpected layers of complicity.
Revitalizing Korean Cinema?
With local theaters struggling, Park acknowledged the heavy responsibility he feels: "I've never felt such pressure before. It's as if the survival of Korean cinema rests on my shoulders." Still, he expressed a humble wish: "If audiences can leave the theater saying, 'Korean movies are fun. I want to see another one,' that would be enough."
No Choice opens nationwide on September 24, carrying both the weight of expectation and the promise of Park Chan-wook's uncompromising vision.
