Director Park Chan-wook Reunites with Actor Lee Byung-hun After 25 Years in New Black Comedy 'No Choice'

Renowned director Park Chan-wook reunites with actor Lee Byung-hun after 25 years since their collaboration on 'Joint Security Area' (2000). Their latest project, 'No Choice', is a black comedy that explores the story of an unemployed man. This film, reflecting the current downturn in the film industry, highlights Park's own anxieties about 'layoffs' in the industry.

In a recent interview at a café in Seoul, Director Park discussed 'No Choice', which follows 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 filled with humor and satire, based on the novel 'The Ax' by American author Donald Westlake.

In the film, Mansu, desperate for reemployment, resorts to the extreme measure of 'eliminating competitors'. Park shared, "When I first read the original work, I was drawn to the subtle humor it exuded. It inspired me to create a comedic film." He added, "Given that it's about a worker in a system, I couldn't help but think of Charlie Chaplin's 'Modern Times'. Although I didn't rewatch it, once the thought occurred, I leaned towards a comedic approach." Lee Byung-hun's mustached appearance in the film also evokes Chaplin.

The film critiques rampant technocracy and the loss of humanity through absurd situations and foolish characters. Park explained, "Depicting a sad story in a consistently gloomy tone doesn't necessarily amplify the tragedy. The more humorous it is, the more empathy for the character grows, and the tragedy becomes more poignant." He continued, "Much of the comedy stems from Mansu's foolishness. He's an expert in his professional world but a complete novice in his new 'mission', leading to comedic yet sad moments."

While the original novel is a crime thriller focusing on an ordinary man's transformation into a monster through murder, the film presents this process as a tragic yet comical black comedy. Park attributed the film's different tone to his previous work, 'Decision to Leave'. He said, "'Decision to Leave' was a slow-paced film with a lot of space. So, I unconsciously took a different approach with this one. I always want to do something different from my previous work to keep it interesting for myself."

Park, known for adapting works like 'Oldboy', 'Thirst', 'The Handmaiden', and 'The Sympathizer', continues this trend with 'No Choice'. When asked about his desire for originality, Park humorously replied, "I have no such desire. I prefer having a source material. It would be great if someone else wrote the script too, so I could make films more frequently."

Actor Lee Byung-hun recently shared a nostalgic photo on his social media with Song Kang-ho and Shin Ha-kyun, reminiscing about their time on 'Joint Security Area'. Park recalled, "After the screening, Kang-ho and Ha-kyun sat across from me at the after-party. It was funny yet bittersweet to see how they've aged. It made me reflect on how we've all managed to endure and survive."

Regarding the film's ending, Park stated, "Audiences will interpret it based on their own life perspectives. People will choose the meaning of the ending based on their personal experiences."

The film addresses the replacement of human jobs by machines through the paper industry, echoing the challenges faced by the film industry. Park, who has experienced the ups and downs of the industry, shared, "Before 'JSA', I went through tough times, trying to pitch my scripts to producers. That fear of failure still looms large."

When asked about the film's success, Park expressed, "I hope the media will say it has somewhat revived the Korean film industry. While it's not too difficult to make a profit due to exports, I hope it does even better."

Though 'No Choice' has already been released, its journey continues as it has been submitted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards next March. Park commented, "The Oscars have a dual nature. If not nominated, I can 'retire' early from promoting the film and focus on my next project. But if nominated, it means months of a 'death race'. At 62, I have mixed feelings about it, but I still hope for the best."

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