Acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook's latest movie 'No Other Choice' has received overwhelming praise at its world premiere during the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, with early reviews drawing comparisons to Bong Joon-ho's Academy Award-winning masterpiece 'Parasite.' The film, which represents a passion project that Park has been developing for two decades, finally made its international debut on Friday night in Italy as part of the festival's main competition section.
The premiere generated remarkable enthusiasm from audiences, who gave the film a standing ovation lasting more than nine minutes, according to local Italian media reports. This extended applause signals strong early reception that could translate into significant awards season momentum for the Korean production.
During a press conference held earlier on Friday, director Park Chan-wook appeared alongside his star-studded cast including Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Yeom Hye-ran, and Lee Sung-min to discuss the film's long journey to the screen. Park explained that the project's endurance over two decades stemmed from its universal appeal. 'The reason I never gave up on this project for 20 years is that whenever I told people the story, no matter the time period or country they came from, they would always say it was relatable and timely,' Park stated. 'I believed it would be made into a film one day.'
'No Other Choice' is based on Donald E. Westlake's novel 'The Ax' and tells the dark story of Man-soo, portrayed by Lee Byung-hun, a recently unemployed man who resorts to extreme and violent measures to eliminate his job competition in order to secure new employment and protect his family's financial stability. The film explores themes of economic desperation and the lengths people will go to survive in a competitive capitalist society.
International film critics have praised the movie's combination of dark humor and sharp social commentary. Entertainment industry publication Deadline highlighted Lee Byung-hun's surprising comedic performance, noting that 'while known as an action star, in this film, he reveals a talent for slapstick comedy.' Deadline's Damon Wise described the production as a 'jet-black comedy' that showcases Lee in his 'most revelatory role to date,' comparing his screen presence to 'an anarchic fusion of Mads Mikkelsen and Buster Keaton.'
Film website IndieWire characterized the work as 'Park Chan-wook's brilliant, bloody and bleakly hilarious capitalism satire.' The publication elaborated on the film's deeper meaning, explaining, 'This is a story about sustenance of a different sort; it's a 'Looney Tunes'-like fable about how capitalism exerts itself by feeding our self-images as it fattens our wallets, and by conflating what we do with who we are to the point that one becomes dependent upon the other.'
Director Park Chan-wook revealed personal connections to the story's themes of job insecurity, noting similarities between his own profession and his protagonist's struggles. 'We (film directors) also become in a state of potential unemployment after finishing a film project, being forced to wait for months or even years for another project,' he explained. 'I am also someone who experienced that for a long time.' This personal investment in the material appears to have contributed to the film's authentic portrayal of economic anxiety.
Lead actor Lee Byung-hun discussed his approach to portraying Man-soo's psychological transformation throughout the story. 'Man-soo is an ordinary family man who struggles to move toward his goal to protect his family,' Lee explained. 'As he gradually becomes a clever criminal, he justifies his actions, but after everything is over, he doubts whether his wife knows about his crimes and becomes mentally exhausted. I tried to pay more attention to portraying that change.' This character arc represents the film's exploration of how desperate circumstances can corrupt ordinary people.
Actress Son Ye-jin, who plays Man-soo's wife Mi-ri, expressed strong confidence in the project's quality and impact. 'The story was intense and beautiful, yet also tragic. After reading the script, which contained everything in a condensed way, I was certain that an incredible film would be made,' she said. Her enthusiasm reflects the cast's belief in the material's potential for both critical and commercial success.
The film is already generating significant buzz for the upcoming awards season, with numerous international critics speculating about potential Academy Award nominations. The combination of Park Chan-wook's established reputation, strong festival reception, and timely social themes positions 'No Other Choice' as a serious contender for major film honors. The movie's exploration of economic inequality and job market pressures resonates particularly strongly in the current global economic climate.
'No Other Choice' is scheduled for its domestic South Korean release on September 24, giving Korean audiences the opportunity to see their acclaimed director's latest work shortly after its international festival debut. The film's success at Venice International Film Festival continues South Korea's recent streak of internationally recognized cinema following the global success of movies like 'Parasite,' 'Minari,' and 'Decision to Leave.'
