Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice' Premieres at the 30th Busan International Film Festival

Renowned director Park Chan-wook's latest film, 'No Other Choice,' has been selected as the opening film for the 30th Busan International Film Festival. Known for his exceptional mise-en-scène, Park's film captivates with powerful performances from the cast. Both the director and actors agree that it's a must-see in theaters.

On the 17th, a press conference for 'No Other Choice' was held at the Busan Cinema Center. Attendees included director Park Chan-wook and actors Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, and Yeom Hye-ran.

'No Other Choice' tells the story of Man-soo, played by Lee Byung-hun, a content office worker who suddenly gets laid off and prepares for his own battle to re-enter the workforce. The film is based on Donald Westlake's novel 'The Ax.'

Director Park expressed, "I've been preparing this project for a long time, and I'm thrilled to present it in Korea." He added, "It's exciting to be back at the Busan Film Festival, especially for its 30th anniversary. I'm eager to see how the audience will receive it."

The film portrays laid-off paper company workers striving for reemployment. Park noted, "Reading the original novel, I easily empathized. People don't usually think making paper is significant, but the characters see it as 'life itself.'" He continued, "Movies, too, might be seen as mere entertainment, yet we pour our lives into them. I felt connected to the characters despite knowing nothing about the paper industry."

Park has long wanted to make this story into a film. "After reading the novel, I immediately wanted to adapt it. I saw elements in the story that I could enhance with comedy and new narratives," he explained. "What if the protagonist's family discovers his actions? This could lead to a fresh direction." He also highlighted the film's message, combining personal and societal stories.

Park emphasized, "The industry is struggling, and Korea seems slower to recover from the pandemic. I hope our film helps pull us out of this slump."

Lee Byung-hun plays Yoo Man-soo, a job seeker who starts a reemployment battle after being laid off from a paper company he served for 25 years. "I eagerly awaited this film," he shared. "It's my first time having a film open the Busan Film Festival, and I'm thrilled."

Lee focused on portraying Man-soo as an ordinary person facing extreme situations. "I concentrated on how a regular person would react to such circumstances," he said.

The 'No Other Choice' team has traveled to various film festivals. Lee mentioned, "At Venice and Toronto, I was often asked about the industry's challenges, similar to the paper industry's struggles." He noted, "Theaters face significant challenges, and we must consider how they can regain their status as beloved venues."

Son Ye-jin plays Lee Mi-ri, who supports her husband by giving up her hobbies. "It's an honor to have my film open the Busan Film Festival," she expressed. "I'm excited to watch it with the audience."

Son described her character as the most realistic in the film. "I wanted to portray her naturally, like a mother or wife in everyday life," she explained.

Son, returning to film after seven years, emphasized the importance of continuing to work with directors like Park Chan-wook.

Park Hee-soon plays Choi Sun-chul, a successful paper company manager. He humorously introduced himself, "I'm here because the director 'elected' me for this role."

Park discussed the industry's difficulties, noting, "It's hard to survive solely on films now. We need more great films to revive the industry."

Lee Sung-min portrays veteran Goo Beom-mo, desperate for reemployment. He shared concerns about technological advancements replacing actors.

Yeom Hye-ran plays Lee Ah-ra, dissatisfied with her husband's post-layoff behavior. She expressed excitement about attending the Busan Film Festival.

Yeom shared a behind-the-scenes story about a scene involving dragonflies, highlighting the creative process on set.

The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and will have its Asian premiere at Busan. Park noted, "The original novel is American, but I adapted it to reflect Korean societal issues."

Lee Byung-hun emphasized the importance of watching the film on the big screen, "You need to see the details on a large screen."

Son Ye-jin recommended watching the film multiple times to appreciate the performances and direction.

'No Other Choice' officially releases on the 24th.

The 30th Busan International Film Festival runs from the 17 to 26 at the Busan Cinema Center.

Reported by Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr