Director Park Chan-wook's latest film, 'No Other Choice', has been officially invited to compete in the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, taking place from August 27 to September 6 in Venice, Italy.
'No Other Choice' tells the gripping tale of 'Mansoo' (played by Lee Byung-hun), a corporate employee who thought he had it all, only to be suddenly laid off. Faced with the daunting task of protecting his wife and two children, and saving the home he worked so hard to acquire, Mansoo prepares for his own battle to re-enter the workforce.
On the 22nd, the executive committee of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival announced the official invitation of 'No Other Choice' to its competition section. The Venice International Film Festival, the oldest film festival in the world, is considered one of the top three film festivals globally, alongside Cannes and Berlin, known for showcasing films that combine artistic merit with popular appeal.
The main competition section, where 'No Other Choice' has been invited, is the heart of the Venice International Film Festival, where films compete for the top prizes. Previous Korean films invited to this prestigious section include 'The Surrogate Womb' (1987), 'Lies' (1999), 'The Isle' (2000), 'Address Unknown' (2001), 'Oasis' (2002), 'A Good Lawyer's Wife' (2003), '3-Iron' (2004), 'Raging Years' (2004), 'Sympathy For Lady Vengeance' (2005), and 'Pieta' (2012), making 'No Other Choice' the eleventh Korean film to compete. This marks a significant achievement, as it's been 13 years since a Korean film was last in the running, with 'Pieta' in 2012.
Director Park Chan-wook, previously invited for 'Three, Monster' (2004) to the Midnight Express section and 'Sympathy For Lady Vengeance' (2005) to the main competition, winning the Young Lion Award, Cinema Of The Future, and Best Innovated Film Award, expressed his feelings: "Having completed the film and received the invitation from Venice, I'm glad I never gave up on this project over the years."
Lee Byung-hun, reuniting with director Park Chan-wook after 'Joint Security Area' and 'Three, Monster', shared, "I'm as eager to see 'No Other Choice' as anyone, and I'm thrilled and honored to be attending Venice with such an outstanding film." Son Ye-jin, working with director Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun for the first time on 'No Other Choice', expressed her excitement: "It's incredibly moving and an honor to be visiting Venice for my first international film festival. It feels like a dream to be attending the Venice International Film Festival."
'No Other Choice' is scheduled for release in September in Korea.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)