Director Park Chan-wook (left) and the cast of "No Other Choice" on Sept. 17 pose for photos at a news conference for the film at the theater Cinema I of Busan Cinema Center in Busan's Haeundae-gu District. From left are Park, Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Yeom Hye-ran and Lee Sung-min.
By Xu Aiying
Photos = Xu Aiying
Video = CJ ENM Movie's official YouTube channel
Director Park Chan-wook's new film "No Other Choice" on the evening of Sept. 17 opened this year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF).
A news conference for the movie on Sept. 17 was held at the theater Cinema I of Busan Cinema Center in Busan's Haeundae-gu District with Park and actors Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran and Park Hee-soon.
"I'm deeply moved to present my long-prepared work for the first time in Korea," Park said. "I'm so excited that one of my works opened BIFF for the first time, and more so that it happened on the festival's 30th anniversary."
Based on the novel "The Ax" by U.S. writer Donald E. Westlake, "No Other Choice" is about Mansu, an office worker who feels he has accomplished everything but is abruptly laid off. He gets desperate in looking for another job to protect his wife Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin), their two children and the house he worked so hard to get.
Infused with Park's signature mise-en-scene and humor, this ordinary yet brutal and tragic black comedy elicits bittersweet laughter. The film describes how modern society forces people over the edge through choices driven by desperation and the funny irony within them.
The cast raved about Park's meticulous directing and his relentless pursuit of subtlety.
"His trademark style of attention to detail shines even when giving instructions to actors in all elements ranging from mise-en-scene and props to costume patterns and lighting," Lee Byung-hun said. "It wasn't easy to try different things in acting but thanks to our experience and training gained on the set, we produced a good work."
"When checking footage, the director accurately points to every unnatural or strange part such as acting, walking and props," added Son, who returned to the silver screen after a seven-year hiatus. "This was a good experience because Park gave systematic feedback when showing footage, so I could try various approaches and interpret them differently."
Even before its premiere, the film grabbed global attention after being invited to major international festivals abroad. "No Other Choice" is Korea's entry for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards of the U.S. in March next year.
Sales of the movie have been confirmed in over 200 countries including those in North America, France, Germany and Japan. Its premiere in Korea is slated for Sept. 24.
Director Park Chan-wook (left) on Sept. 17 answers questions at the news conference for his latest work "No Other Choice" at the theater Cinema I of Busan Cinema Center in Busan's Haeundae-gu District.
