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

Director Park Chan-wook reunited with actor Lee Byung-hun for the first time in 25 years since Joint Security Area (2000). This time, it was through No Other Choice, a black comedy about the story of an unemployed man. The film, from a director who has long been active in the industry, also evokes the recent downturn in the film market. Although Park is considered a "master," he too experiences anxiety over "dismissal" within the industry.

Recently, we met Park Chan-wook at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul. No Other Choice tells the story of Mansu (played by Lee Byung-hun), who, after 25 years at a paper company, is suddenly laid off and struggles to find a new job. The film is full of humor and satire. It is based on the novel The Ax by American author Donald Westlake.

In the film, Mansu, desperate to find work, loses his moral compass and makes the extreme choice of "eliminating competitors." Park said, “When I first read the original story, I really liked the subtle humor that comes through. That inspired me. I thought I could turn this into a comedic film.” He added, “Since it’s about a worker within a system, I couldn’t help thinking of Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times. But I didn’t rewatch Modern Times. Still, once that idea came to mind, it naturally led me toward a comedic approach.” Mansu’s appearance in the film, with a mustache, also evokes Chaplin.

The movie criticizes widespread technocracy and the loss of humanity through absurd situations and foolish characters. Park explained, “Depicting a sad story in a continuously gloomy tone doesn’t make the tragedy stronger. The funnier it is, the more sympathy viewers feel for the characters, and the more intense the tragedy becomes.” He continued, “Much of the comedy comes from Mansu’s foolishness—his clumsiness, confusion, and inability to know what to do. He’s a skilled professional in his regular job, but completely inexperienced in his new ‘assignment,’ which creates humor, yet it’s ultimately sad to watch.”

While the original novel focuses on an ordinary man becoming a monster through murder, the film depicts this process in a tragic yet absurd way, turning it into a black comedy. Regarding the somewhat different tone from the original, Park said, “It’s probably because of my previous film, Decision to Leave. That film was slow and full of pauses. So for the next work, I naturally wanted a faster pace. When making films, I always want to do something different from the previous work. Repetition makes me feel bored, and then the work isn’t fun. If scenes without restraint are needed, like in Oldboy or Sympathy for Lady Vengeance, I work with the mindset to show everything without limitation.”

Park Chan-wook has consistently adapted works with source material, including Oldboy, Thirst, The Handmaiden, and The Sympathizer. He was asked whether he has any desire for originality, and he laughed, saying, “I have no such desire. I prefer having source material. It’s even better if someone writes the script. Then I can make films more frequently.” He added, “It takes 1–2 years to develop a good story and write a script, but if someone gives it to me, I could make films all the time.”

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 Other 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