Actor Cha Seung-won once again showed a transformation in his acting through No Other Choice.
Since its release at the end of last month, No Other Choice (directed by Park Chan-wook) has continued its box office success beyond Korea to the rest of the world amid a craze for repeat viewings, and Cha Seung-won, playing the realistic family man Sijo, has delivered a restrained performance and delicate expressions that give audiences a quiet resonance.
No Other Choice tells the story of Mansu (played by Lee Byung-hun), a salaried worker who once felt his life was so satisfying that he could say "I have achieved everything," but is abruptly fired. The film follows his preparations for his own war toward reemployment as he struggles to protect his wife and two children and to keep the home he worked hard to obtain.
Sijo, who is also a potential rival to Mansu, is a character who, after losing his job at a paper mill, works as a manager at a shoe store and lives each day diligently. Despite difficult circumstances, Cha Seung-won makes viewers' hearts ache with a pitiful portrayal of a man who shows a smile to his daughter and grovels to customers to make ends meet.
In particular, Sijo, who had been a skilled craftsman at the paper mill, reveals his pride in his work and the bitterness of losing his standing in the industry after being laid off when he tells Mansu, who visits as a customer, "I think papermaking is a kind of art." In this scene Cha Seung-won completed the character's pathos with just his eyes and tone, adding to the sense of sorrow.
Known to the public for his distinctive charisma and pleasant presence, Cha Seung-won showed an entirely different tone in this work with a restrained style of acting. Rather than exploding emotionally, he swallowed feelings and expressed their depth, prompting audience reactions such as "It's good to see you, a face I missed." Critics say Cha Seung-won's densely layered performance firmly supports the character's emotional life.
Also, following last year's Netflix film Jeon,ran, he is drawing attention for his second collaboration with director Park Chan-wook. Earlier Park said of Cha Seung-won, "Cha Seung-won is tall and has a strong impression, but I thought it would be interesting if he acted hunched and obsequious because of his height," drawing attention to that side of him. That director's perspective was realized more convincingly through Cha Seung-won's realistic and unadorned acting.
No Other Choice has been screened consecutively at prestigious overseas film festivals including the Venice International Film Festival, the Busan International Film Festival and the New York Film Festival, earning recognition for both its artistic quality and box office appeal. It is now showing nationwide in theaters, receiving praise from domestic audiences and positive responses in the global market.
Meanwhile, Cha Seung-won has confirmed his appearance in writer Noh Hee-kyung's new Netflix series Slowly and intensely (working title) and is currently filming.
[Photo] CJ ENM
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