82nd Venice International Film Festival competition institutional sector selection and the opening film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, "No Other Choice" (director Park Chan-wook, distributor CJ ENM, produced by Moho Film · CJ ENM Studios) completed its first official domestic screening at the Busan International Film Festival through the opening screening and is receiving explosive praise.
"No Other Choice" depicts the story of Mansu (Lee Byung-hun), an office worker who felt his life was so satisfying that he could say "I've achieved everything," who is suddenly fired and, to protect his wife and two children, to keep the home he struggled to acquire, prepares his own war for reemployment. On Sept. 17, "No Other Choice," which successfully completed its opening screening at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, is drawing enthusiastic reactions from audiences who watched the film. With director Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min and Yeom Hye-ran in attendance, the festival opened in splendor, successfully completing everything from the press conference to the Asia premiere screening.
When the screening began, the special fun created by the synergy of colorful characters and the irreplaceable mise-en-scène instantly immersed the audience. The fluid shifts between tension and release and Park Chan-wook's signature black comedy captivated viewers. As proof of the theater's heated enthusiasm, praise for the film poured in after the screening.
Audiences responded to the story that evokes empathy across eras by saying, "Park Chan-wook's sophisticated humor and fun, and the top-tier cinematic experience" (WatchaPedia_P봉****), "It unpacks things deeply embedded in our society with delightful and sharp insight and humor" (WatchaPedia_노토****), and "Park Chan-wook's gaze was directed toward a concretized reality" (WatchaPedia_조신****). Regarding the actors who breathed life into the film with solid acting skills, they praised, "a feats-of-acting show put on by masters of acting competing with each other" (WatchaPedia_곰크****), "I understand why people keep saying Lee Byung-hun. He becomes a different person in every work" (X_Oh****), and "Lee Byung-hun delivers the kind of performance he does best. Son Ye-jin is also so striking, and Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min and Yeom Hye-ran were one with their characters!" (Instagram_gn****). They also lauded the production quality that maximizes immersion, saying, "I applaud director Park Chan-wook's directing" (WatchaPedia_권사****), "The visuals are needless to say and the musical immersion is amazing. I want to see it again in Dolby" (WatchaPedia_Hu****), and "Park Chan-wook has again presented an original story! His signature mise-en-scène is hidden throughout the tense development!" (WatchaPedia_no****).
Following the Asia premiere screening through the Busan International Film Festival opening ceremony, the film "No Other Choice," which has drawn a heated response, has solidified its presence as a highly anticipated film set to captivate theaters this fall.
Park Chan-wook's new film "No Other Choice," featuring a gathering of trusted actors, dramatic developments, beautiful mise-en-scène, strong direction and black comedy, is scheduled to be released on Sept. 24.
[Photo] CJ ENM
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