Park Chan-wook, renowned for his cinematic works such as “Oldboy” (2003), “The Handmaiden” (2016), and “Decision To Leave” (2022), has dedicated over twenty years to exploring the murky depths of human nature, focusing on themes of vengeance, power, and pleasure, often flavored with intense psychological elements.
In his latest film, Lee Byung-hun, known for his role in “Squid Game,” portrays Man-su, a loyal corporate employee who faces the unexpected challenge of unemployment, leading him down an unusual path to re-enter the workforce.
Set to hit Australian theaters on January 15, “With No Other Choice” sees Park shifting his lens towards a subtler form of horror: the existential dread that arises when one’s career—and the identity tied to it—vanishes.
The narrative, despite its harshness, follows a compelling logic. Park has long been fascinated with what drives individuals to their breaking points, particularly when external pressures and systems push them to the brink.
“Paper is often underestimated,” Park muses. “People casually discard it without a second thought, yet certain types of paper, like currency or passports, hold significant value.”
Park Chan-wook is a giant of world cinema. His latest film, No Other Choice, explores the horrors of work. Source: Supplied / Mubi
He explains that for some people, film and TV are viewed similarly, as “a meaningless source of entertainment” or “a way to kill time”.
“I think that’s why I was able to very easily empathise with the characters and the story, because it’s a story about someone who has devoted their life to something that other people don’t consider very important.”
A distinctly Korean pressure
“They spend most of their time at their jobs and they find the achievements from their job as their life’s achievements as well.”
Director Park says the film was inspired by the real-life devastation of job loss in modern South Korean society. Source: Supplied / Mubi
Park notes that South Korea’s social welfare system was introduced relatively late — and in stages over the 40 years leading up to the early noughties — intensifying the consequences of domestic job losses.
“Reading The Ax, I was remembering those incidents and I think I was influenced by the societal circumstance around me as well.”
Pressure to perform
“And unlike other artists like painters or poets, filmmaking requires you to care about what others might consider worldly desires — such as box office scores or awards or good reviews.”
While he’s one of South Korea’s most acclaimed filmmakers, Park Chan-wook still says he needs “worldly success” to be able to continue his career. Source: Getty / John Phillips
Despite his influence on global cinema, Park has never been nominated for an Academy Award.
“I make films that require a certain level of capital to be invested. I also want creative freedom when I’m making my films as well,” he says.
So I can’t help but accept that I also require the so-called worldly success in order to continue in my career.
In No Other Choice, the paper company operates as an invisible authority, quietly determining Man-su’s value. For filmmakers, Park suggests, the industry can function in much the same way.
A ‘bitter taste’ in a world without film
For Park, it’s in part an opportunity to reflect on his sense of self and who he is outside of filmmaking.
I actually thought about that a lot while working on this film and I realised that I have to work on expanding other areas of my life other than just being a filmmaker.
