No Other Choice, 2025.
Directed by Park Chan-wook.
Starring Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon.
SYNOPSIS:
After being unemployed for several years, a man devises a unique plan to secure a new job: eliminate his competition.
Park Chan-wook has proven adept at seamlessly flitting between genres over the past 30 years, from dark, psychological drama and action with his Vengeance trilogy to the Gothic with Stoker and Neo-Noir with his previous film Decision to Leave in 2022. His latest, No Other Choice, sees him dabble in black comedy with a thrilling, often hilarious, biting satire.
Yoo Man-soo is secure in his role in the paper industry with a loving family. When he is laid off after more than 25 years, rather than simply walking into another role, he struggles to make the family’s comfortable lifestyle no longer attainable. Yoo Man-soo is forced to take drastic measures to restore some semblance of normality.
A black-comedy thriller is certainly not something you’d expect from a film about unemployment, but Park Chan-wook has never been one to stick to the script. This is a film that toys with expectations at every avenue, hinting at shocks in one area then materialising elsewhere. The tonal balance is remarkable, especially given how largely serious his previous work has been; the comedic elements are naturally integrated. The closest comparison is perhaps something like the Coen Brothers’ Fargo, but to compare it to others’ work would be doing it a disservice; this is an incredibly singular piece of work.
Lee Byung-hun delivers a remarkable lead performance as a man out of his depth, plotting to stay ahead and avoid getting himself or his family into trouble. His ineptitude leads to natural laughs, and he strikes the perfect blend of exasperation and menace. Son Ye-jin is equally impressive as his bemused wife, struggling to piece events together and keep the family from falling apart.
This is a scathing commentary on the state of the job market, and while set in South Korea, it is something that many globally can relate to. Especially prescient is the discussion around automation of work and the rise of AI and absorption by multinational companies, which is initially what causes the redundancies. The themes explored here are only likely to become more and more prevalent with passing time, so this will likely be a work that resonates for years to come.
No Other Choice further cements Park Chan-wook as one of the finest directors of his generation. It may be a departure tonally from his previous work, but the hallmarks of his usual quality are on display. This is another visually striking film, building on Decision to Leave. The use of diegetic sound, again something crucial in his previous work, is almost unrivalled here, blending wonderfully with the score and something to be studied in future.
No Other Choice has already earned its share of acclaim and looks set to feature in many of the key categories come awards season. A film about unemployment has no right being as funny or thrilling as this, and certain sequences are bound to go down a storm with a packed screen.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Chris Connor
