Park Chan-wook’s new film 'No Other Choice' will represent South Korea in the race for Best International Feature at next year’s Academy Awards.
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) announced on the 3rd that it has selected 'No Other Choice' as the country’s official submission for the Oscars, slated for next March.
“Considering its assured craftsmanship, a timely theme of layoffs, standout performances, and the backing of a capable North American distributor, we found it the most competitive among the contenders,” the selection committee said, adding that its irony―finding humor in a shared global tragedy―“is the kind of storytelling the Academy responds to.”
The International Feature Film category is open to movies produced outside the United States, and each country may submit only one title.
'No Other Choice' centers on Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), an office worker who feels he’s finally made it―until he’s abruptly laid off. Determined to protect his wife, two children, and the hard-won family home, he launches his own battle to get back on his feet. The film is adapted from Donald E. Westlake’s novel 'The Ax.'
Invited to compete at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, 'No Other Choice' premiered there on Aug. 29 and quickly emerged as a leading Golden Lion contender. Buoyed by its Venice buzz, it now heads into the Oscars race as South Korea’s official entry.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)