Three years after his critically acclaimed Decision to Leave (2022), director Park Chan-wook makes a powerful return to the screen with No Other Choice, a gripping drama centered on a man’s desperate fight to protect everything he holds dear. The story follows Man-su (Lee Byung Hun), a once-proud man whose stable life is suddenly upended when he’s dismissed from his job. Struggling to support his wife, Miri (Son Yejin), their two children, and the home he built with hard work, Man-su enters a relentless personal battle for survival.

Opening this year’s Busan International Film Festival, No Other Choice stars actor Lee Byung Hun, also this year’s Opening Ceremony host, in the lead role, portraying a man pushed to the brink in his search for reemployment. Son Yejin co-stars as Miri, a fiercely determined woman doing everything she can to shield her family. Marking their first appearance together as an on-screen couple, the duo leads a cast that includes Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won.

With Park’s superb visual style, strong narrative drive, and precise production, No Other Choice captures one man’s urgent quest to protect his family in a world where stability vanishes overnight. The director previously referred to this film as a “long-awaited passion project” when speaking at BIFF 2019, underlining its deep personal significance.

Festival Director Jung Hanseok shared his thoughts, stating, “I’m deeply touched and thrilled to witness the premiere of Park Chan-wook’s long-awaited project alongside such a diverse audience. I hope this film helps usher in a new wave of interest and recognition for Korean cinema.”

No Other Choice will be screened as the opening film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, taking place from September 17 to 26, 2025.

Featured image courtesy of Busan International Film Festival

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}