No Other Choice, the highly anticipated dark comedy thriller by South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook, has been set as the opening film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).
The film, which stars Squid Game’s Lee Byung-hun, will receive its Asian premiere at the landmark edition of the festival on September 17 after receiving its world premiere in competition at Venice.
It marks the first feature in three years from director Park, whose noir melodrama Decision To Leave premiered in Competition at Cannes in 2022, winning best director. He has since made US drama series The Sympathizer starring Robert Downey Jr. for HBO.
No Other Choice stars Lee as a family man who is fired from his job and becomes determined to land a new role, brutally dealing with those who stand in his way. The cast also includes renowned actress Son Yejin as his wife alongside Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran and Cha Seung-won.
Festival organisers said the selection “embodies what audiences most hope to see – a film that can reinvigorate Korean cinema at this pivotal moment”. South Korea’s film industry has faced challenges to bounce back post-pandemic and box office in the country was down 33% year-on-year in the first of 2025.
Jung Hanseok, in his first year as BIFF festival director, said: “I am deeply moved and excited to experience the premiere of Park Chan-wook’s desired project alongside diverse audiences on the festival’s opening day. I sincerely hope that its selection will build meaningful momentum to garner greater attention and foster renewed interest in Korean cinema”.
The film is based on Donald E. Westlake’s 1997 novel The Ax, which was first adapted for the screen in 2005 by Costa-Gavras, titled Le Couperet (The Ax).
It reunites Park with lead actor Lee having previously worked together on 2000 mystery thriller Joint Security Area and the Korean segment of 2004 horror anthology Three… Extremes.
Producers are Park and Back Jisun of Moho Film, and Michèle Ray Gavras and Alexandre Gavras of France’s KG Productions. Executive producer is Miky Lee of CJ Group. CJ ENM financed the project. Neon has distribution rights for North America and Mubi has acquired the film for multiple other territories.
Park is one of South Korea’s most acclaimed filmmakers who broke through with Joint Security Area in 2000 before directing the Vengeance trilogy comprising Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance. Revenge thriller Oldboy became the first Korean film to win the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004.
He subsequently made horror Thirst, psychological thriller The Handmaiden and romantic mystery Decision To Leave, all of which played in Competition at Cannes. Further credits include English-language feature Stoker and TV miniseries The Little Drummer Girl.
The 30th BIFF is set to run September 17-26.
No comments yet