A killer job market leads to ‘No Other Choice,’ a darkly comic satire from Korea

by

When things go wrong at work, it’s easy to feel defeated, but setbacks can actually be chances for self-reflection and personal growth. Of course, in some fictional worlds – like the darkly funny thriller by Park Chan-wook – people take a more…direct approach to dealing with competition. Given how tough the job market is right now, it’s darkly amusing to think that eliminating the competition might be a surprisingly effective career strategy.

The film “No Other Choice,” which received acclaim at both the Venice and Toronto film festivals, begins with a seemingly typical scene. Man-su (Lee Byung-Hun) has spent 25 years as a successful executive at Solar Paper, even earning the title of “Pulp Man of the Year,” and has built a comfortable life with his wife, Miri (Son Yejin), and their two children. While having a barbecue with his family, he looks around at their beautiful home – a house he grew up in and worked hard to buy – and takes a moment to appreciate his good fortune.

I was really rooting for this guy, but things took a turn. His company, Solar Paper, got bought out by an American firm, and he suddenly lost his job. He was determined to find something worthwhile within three months, but a year went by, and he was still searching. Honestly, it was heartbreaking to see him struggle, especially as he started falling behind on his mortgage. It just felt so unfair.

Park’s film starts like many stories about job losses in today’s world, but it quickly takes a dark turn. Man-su, unable to find a similar high-level job after being laid off, becomes resentful of a smug manager, Park Hee Son, at a competing paper company called Moon Paper. Driven by envy, Man-su devises a plan to both murder the manager and remove anyone who might also be considered for the open position.

Awards

Director Park Chan-wook and actor Lee Byung-hun, who have worked together before, team up again in ‘No Other Choice,’ a darkly humorous Korean film that critiques capitalism and was submitted for Oscar consideration.

To achieve this, Man-su needs to secretly create a fake company and gather résumés from unemployed executives. He’ll then choose the most qualified among them and devise a plan to eliminate them as competition, ensuring he gets the comfortable job at Moon Paper.

The premise of “No Other Choice” is both outrageous and surprisingly smart, though it’s not entirely original. The film is based on Donald E. Westlake’s 1997 novel, “The Ax,” which was previously made into a movie by director Costa-Gavras (Park even dedicates his film to him). The story centers on Man-su, a man who stubbornly continues to work with paper in a digital world. While planning his crimes is easy for Man-su, actually carrying them out proves much harder—it turns out murder isn’t simple. Park portrays Man-su’s failed attempts at killing people as comical, chaotic scenes where the inept protagonist often barely escapes with his own life.

Park Chan-wook first gained recognition for his violent and stylish genre films like “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” and “Oldboy,” establishing himself as a director of exciting, low-budget movies. More recently, with films like the visually rich “The Handmaiden” (2016) and the sophisticated “Decision to Leave” (2022), he’s begun blending the elements of high-quality, critically acclaimed cinema with his continuing love for thrilling, sensational stories.

Awards

The artists who designed the posters for the films ‘Bugonia,’ ‘No Other Choice,’ and ‘Sinners’ share the stories behind their creative ideas.

Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” feels like a blend of his past work, exploring the dark sides of his characters with impressive filmmaking and sharp wit. However, it leans more towards satire than sadness, often poking fun at the protagonist, Man-su, and his flaws. There’s even a darkly comedic scene where Man-su frantically tries to find proof of his wife’s affair. The film is often playful and sensual, even as a series of murders draws police attention to Man-su.

At first, the film portrays Man-su as a relatable family man struggling financially. However, director Lee quickly challenges that sympathy by revealing Man-su’s cold and calculated approach to murder. While Man-su isn’t naturally skilled at killing, it’s not due to guilt – he simply needs to refine his technique. The film boldly suggests that murder, like any profession, requires effort and determination. The consequences are clear. Surprisingly, killing isn’t just beneficial for Man-su’s career; it also improves his relationship with Miri, a divorced mother who is used to being a homemaker.

Park’s films often surprise and disturb, but they aren’t necessarily original. While “No Other Choice” powerfully shows the impact of AI and layoffs on today’s workers, its themes of isolation and struggling with identity echo those found in well-known works like “Parasite” and “Breaking Bad.” The movie is most effective not during its dramatic scenes, but when it quietly shows how employees are dehumanized by a ruthless economic system. Just like the trees turned into paper products, the film suggests we are all ultimately consumed by this system.

Read More

2026-01-06 22:01