The opening film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival is Park Chan-wook's 'No Other Choice.'
Park Chan-wook's new film, 'No Other Choice,' which he presents three years after 'Decision to Leave' (2022), captures the story of a company employee named 'Mansu' (Lee Byung-hun) who felt that he had achieved everything in life, but was suddenly laid off. To protect his wife and two children, and to maintain the hard-earned home, he prepares for his own war toward reemployment.
This year's Busan International Film Festival opening ceremony will be hosted by actor Lee Byung-hun, who will portray the desperate job seeker 'Mansu' starting a fierce battle for reemployment. Actor Son Ye-jin, representing the Korean film industry, will play the wife 'Miri,' who tries to protect her family unwaveringly in any crisis, delivering a powerful performance. With the two actors, who are collaborating as a couple for the first time, the compelling performances of trusted actors like Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won are highly anticipated. Based on dramatic developments, unique mise-en-scène, and solid direction, it depicts the desperate struggle of a character trying to protect his life and family. Park Chan-wook noted at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival that this film was 'the story he wanted to make the most' and expressed deep affection for it.
This year's Busan International Film Festival, celebrating its 30th edition, has selected 'No Other Choice' as a work suitable for the grand opening ceremony of this commemorative year. The film serves as an answer to what the approximately 5,000 audience members attending the opening ceremony would most want to see. It also reflects a focus on works that can bring the most vivid vitality to the current Korean film industry. Therefore, the Busan International Film Festival, by selecting the magnum opus of a master who has long led the greatness of Korean cinema as the opening film, emphasizes popular interaction with the many audience members attending the opening ceremony while sending a warm message of respect and support to the current state of Korean cinema, heralding the beginning of the festival.
Jeong Han-seok, the executive committee chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, said, 'I am excited and thrilled to think that we will be able to enjoy the story Park Chan-wook wanted to create together with many audience members on the first day of this year's festival. I hope that the selection of 'No Other Choice' as the opening film becomes a positive opportunity to increase interest in this work and lead to more interest in Korean cinema.'
The opening film 'No Other Choice,' which marks the 30th Busan International Film Festival, can be seen during the festival, which will take place from Sept. 17 (Wed) to 26 (Fri).
[Photo] Provided
[OSEN]