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No Other Choice
2025 South Korean film by Park Chan-wook From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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No Other Choice (Korean: 어쩔수가없다; RR: Eojjeolsugaeopda) is an upcoming South Korean black comedy thriller film directed by Park Chan-wook and based on the novel The Ax by Donald Westlake. Starring Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won, it follows Man Soo, a man who engages in a desperate hunt for new employment after being fired from a position he has held for 25 years.
The film will have its world premiere in the main competition of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on 29 August 2025, where it is nominated for the Golden Lion,[1] and will open 30th Busan International Film Festival on 17 September 2025.[2]
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Cast
- Lee Byung-hun as You Man-su[3]
- Son Ye-jin as Lee Miri
- Park Hee-soon as Choi Sun-chul
- Lee Sung-min as Gu Bummo
- Yeom Hye-ran as Lee Ara
- Cha Seung-won as Go Sijo
- Yoo Yeon-seok as Oh Chin-ho
Production
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Development
During the Busan International Film Festival in 2009, it was announced that Park would remake Costa-Gavras' 2005 film The Axe.[4] Park would later clarify that he had read Donald Westlake's 1997 novel The Ax upon which the film was based and decided to adapt it prior to knowing about Costa-Gavras' film.[5] However, the project was delayed when Park received the screenplay for his 2012 film Stoker.[6] In 2012, Park said he planned to make the film his next project but it still needed "more work on the casting and attracting investors".[6]
During a live discussion with Costa-Gavras at the 2019 Busan International Film Festival, Park told audiences that he was still working on his adaptation of Westlake's novel.[5] The film was described by Park as a "lifetime project" and that while he hadn't begun filming it yet, he wished "to make this film as my masterpiece."[7] Gavras, who still held the rights to the book, had helped Park to develop the project. The film was set to be an English-language picture, with Don McKellar co-writing the script alongside Park.[5]
Park's team told The Hollywood Reporter that he was approaching the project with the intent to "strengthen the moral dilemma in this story as much as possible, and he will increase the role of protagonist's wife".[5]
At the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Park stated that the project was still in development and followed "a heartbreaking story about a middle-aged man who lost a job, and now he needs to bring the bread to the table to feed his family. So, he struggles in the process of looking for a job in a specialized field, and he becomes a serial killer."[8]
In March 2024, Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin were announced as the film's leads.[9] Park and Son previously worked together in the 2016 movie The Truth Beneath, while Park collaborated with Lee on Joint Security Area (2000). Park revealed that the film would now be set in Korea.[10]
In August 2024, Park's frequent collaborators Lee Kyoung-mi and Lee Ja-hye were also announced as writers on the project.
Filming
Principal photography began in August 2024.[11][3] Filming wrapped in January 2025, lasting a total of five months.[12]
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Release
In June 2025, Neon acquired North American distribution rights to No Other Choice, with Mubi taking rights to the film in the U.K., Ireland, Latin America, Spain, Turkey, the SAARC, Australia, New Zealand and the Benelux, the latter in association with its subsidiary Cinéart.[13] In July 2025, it was announced that the film would premiere in competition for the Golden Lion at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival,[14][15] followed by a theatrical release in South Korea on September 24, 2025.[16]
The film is also slated to have its North American premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where Lee Byung-hun will receive a Special Tribute Award at the TIFF Tribute Awards event.[17]
It will open the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 17 2025.[18] It also made it to the Main Slate of 2025 New York Film Festival, where it will have its United States Premiere in October 2025.[19] It will also be presented in 'Special Presentations' section at the 2025 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival on 17 September 2025.[20]
References
External links
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