Director Park Chan Wook’s new film 'No Other Choice' has confirmed its release date for September 24 and unveiled its main trailer.
'No Other Choice' tells the story of office worker Man Soo (Lee Byung Hun), who had once felt his life was complete, only to be abruptly fired. To protect his wife and two children, and to hold on to the hard-earned home they built, he prepares for his own battle toward reemployment. The film is based on the 1997 novel 'The Ax' by American writer Donald E. Westlake.
As a new project from world-renowned auteur Park Chan Wook, the film has already drawn major attention even before release with a powerhouse cast that includes Lee Byung Hun, Son Ye Jin, Park Hee Soon, Lee Sung Min, Yeom Hye Ran, and Cha Seung Won - actors widely considered among Korea’s best.
'No Other Choice' has been officially invited to the competition section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, opening on August 27. This marks the first Korean entry in 13 years since Kim Ki Duk’s Pieta.
The main trailer, released on August 22, begins by spotlighting Man Soo’s nervous demeanor at a job interview. Later, when detectives inform him that two fellow applicants have gone missing, his ironic response, "I’ll call you as soon as I disappear," adds a layer of dark humor to the tense storyline.
In the face of a sudden financial crisis, Man Soo’s wife, Mi Ri (Son Ye Jin), and the family try to adjust rationally, cutting back on expenses. She encourages him with, "You can do it," but then jokingly adds, "Kill them all." Her words, however, soon echo hauntingly, repeating in the trailer as if looping inside Man Soo’s mind. The ominous tagline, "Four people, one position," flashes as scenes cut between his potential rivals - Beom Mo (Lee Sung Min), Si Jo (Cha Seung Won), and the highly admired Seon Chul (Park Hee Soon) - raising the suspense about their fates.
As the competition for reemployment intensifies, Man Soo is pushed to extremes, and the unpredictable twists promise gripping immersion. In one striking scene, he mutters, "No other choice," while lighting a cigarette in the dark night, hinting at the massive events to come. A violent clash between Man Soo and Beom Mo with his wife Ah Ra (Yum Hye Ran) foreshadows a climactic battle fueled by desperation.
Netizens are already expressing excitement at the news of the release. Comments on the trailer include, “The direction and color palette are insane,” “Wow, this looks so thrilling,” “I’m dying of curiosity—no other choice but to watch,” “This will be crazy fun,” “With Park Chan Wook, rewatching is a must,” and “This is epic.”
Bringing together Korea’s top-tier actors, a gripping narrative, Park Chan Wook’s signature meticulous direction, and a dash of black comedy, No Other Choice is set to hit theaters on September 24.
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