Director Park Chan-wook Eyes Box Office Success with 'No Choice'

Acclaimed director Park Chan-wook has expressed his desire for his latest film, 'No Choice,' to resonate with a broad audience and achieve box office success. The filmmaker shared his aspirations in a recent interview.

'No Choice,' scheduled for release on the 24th, centers on Mansu (played by Lee Byung-hun), a company employee who, despite feeling fulfilled, is abruptly fired. The story follows his intense battle to protect his family and his newly acquired home.

Based on Donald E. Westlake's novel 'Ask the Amarican,' and a remake of Costa-Gavras' film 'The Ax,' 'No Choice' has already garnered significant international attention. It was selected as an official entry in the competition section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, the opening film for the 30th Busan International Film Festival, and received official invitations to the 50th Toronto International Film Festival and the 63rd New York Film Festival. Furthermore, it has been chosen as South Korea's representative film for the International Feature Film category at the 2026 Academy Awards, sparking anticipation for potential nominations.

Discussing the initial reactions to the film, Director Park remarked with a laugh, "I think our team is only telling me the good news to protect my mental state." He related an anecdote from director Guillermo del Toro, who suggested that one cannot exclusively embrace positive reviews; critical feedback must also be acknowledged. Park admitted to a similar sentiment, joking about being 'soulmates' with del Toro in this regard.

Despite receiving rave reviews at the Venice Film Festival, the film did not secure an award, leaving a hint of disappointment. Nevertheless, Park stated, "I am satisfied because this film has received the best reception among all my works." He elaborated, "It's the first time my film consistently ranked first in daily and critic scores. The spontaneous applause during the press screening was also a first," he shared.

Park confessed that he hoped for an acting award for Lee Byung-hun, rather than an award for himself. "Given Lee Byung-hun's exceptional performance and significant screen time, I thought a Best Actor award might be possible. For the sake of the film's commercial success, I felt that Lee Byung-hun receiving an award would be more beneficial than me winning any personal award, as we make films solely based on their potential for audience engagement," he revealed, drawing laughter.

'No Choice' premieres on the 24th.

Director Park Chan-wook is a globally renowned filmmaker celebrated for his distinctive visual style and compelling narratives in films such as 'Oldboy,' 'The Handmaiden,' and 'Decision to Leave.' His works consistently blend artistic merit with broad appeal, earning him a devoted following worldwide. With 'No Choice,' he aims to forge an even deeper connection with his audience.