Renowned director Park Chan-wook has expressed a desire to focus on creating more films rather than being overly concerned with originality.
In a recent interview at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul, Park discussed his latest film, 'No Choice,' which tells the story of Mansu, played by Lee Byung-hun, who struggles to find new employment after being unexpectedly laid off from a paper company where he worked for 25 years. The film is based on the novel 'The Ax' by American author Donald Westlake.
Park shared, "When I first read the original work, I was drawn to the subtle humor it exuded. It inspired me to think that I could turn it into a comedic film." He added, "Since it's a story about a worker within a system, I couldn't help but think of Charlie Chaplin's 'Modern Times.' Although I didn't rewatch 'Modern Times,' once the thought crossed my mind, I naturally leaned towards a comedic approach." The character played by Lee Byung-hun, with his mustache, also evokes the image of Charlie Chaplin.
Park explained, "Even though it's a sad story, depicting it in a consistently gloomy manner doesn't necessarily enhance the tragedy. The more humorous it is, the more empathy it evokes for the character, and the tragedy becomes more apparent." He continued, "Much of the comedy comes from Mansu's foolishness. Despite being an expert in his professional world, he is a complete novice in his new 'mission,' leading to comedic yet poignant moments."
While the original novel is a crime thriller focusing on an ordinary man's transformation into a monster through murder, the film portrays this process as a tragic yet absurd black comedy.
When asked about the film's different tone from the original, Park attributed it to his previous work, 'Decision to Leave.' He explained, "'Decision to Leave' was a slow-paced film with a lot of space. So, unconsciously, I wanted to do something different with the next project. I always want to change from my previous work because if it feels repetitive, I find it boring and lose the joy of working. I approached this film with the mindset of expressing everything without restraint, similar to my work on 'Oldboy' and 'Lady Vengeance.'"
Park Chan-wook, known for adapting works like 'Oldboy,' 'Thirst,' 'The Handmaiden,' and 'The Sympathizer,' continues this trend with 'No Choice,' based on the American novel 'The Ax.'
When asked if he has any desire for originality, Park humorously replied, "I don't have that desire. I prefer having an original work to adapt. It would be great if someone else wrote the script, so I could make films more frequently." He added, "I spend 1-2 years creating good material and writing scripts, but if someone provided them, I could make films all the time."
By Kim Ji-won, TenAsia Reporter bella@tenasia.co.kr