Master director Park Chan-wook mentioned the preconceived notions surrounding him and delivered a message he wanted to ask of audiences.
No Other Choice director Park Chan-wook said he is thirsty for box-office success and wants to receive a lot of audience love.
On the afternoon of the 23rd at a café in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, an interview with director Park Chan-wook for the film No Other Choice was held.
No Other Choice (director Park Chan-wook, distributed by CJ ENM, produced by Moho Film·CJ ENM Studios) tells the story of office worker Mansu (played by Lee Byung-hun), who felt his life was so satisfying that he could say "I have it all" but is abruptly fired, and the events that unfold as he prepares his own war to get re-employed to protect his wife Miri (played by Son Ye-jin), his two children, and the home he struggled to secure. Based on the original novel X by American novelist Donald Westlake, it is a remake of Costa-Gavras's film Axe, a dangerous guide to employment.
It was earlier invited to compete in the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and selected as the opening film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, and it has been officially invited to the 50th Toronto International Film Festival and the 63rd New York Film Festival, drawing global attention. In addition, it was selected as Korea's representative for the international feature category at the 2026 Academy Awards, raising interest in whether it will make the final nominee list.
He said he does not feel burdened by his name value, "Before seeing a film (in terms of completeness) I don't feel a burden that 'the film will be excellent.' However, the part 'this person's films are like this' is the most burdensome. It's always something I want to shake off," and added, "As I've said many times, one reason this film couldn't be titled 'Axe' or 'Neck' is prejudice. I wish people would view it like a debut director's film with a clean slate."
When describing Park Chan-wook, people use the term "learned pervert" because of his detailed mise-en-scène, and he confessed, "Most people probably don't get a good image from the word 'pervert.' As you get older you may look like an old pervert. That's the worst. It seems to include sexual depiction, nudity, cruelty, horrific elements, and twistedness."
Compared with his previous film Decision to Leave, No Other Choice has a completely different atmosphere, and he said, "Even while making it I thought, 'It's really different.' Of course some people may like both, but I wondered, 'Would someone who liked that also like this?'" He laughed and added, "For those who were introduced to my work through Decision to Leave, No Other Choice might be shocking and a film they wouldn't want to see again. If they had known me before, they might not be as taken aback."
Meanwhile, No Other Choice opens on the 24th.
[Photo] Provided by CJ ENM
[OSEN]