Park Chan-wook’s black comedy thriller No Other Choice to launch BIFF’s 30th edition

No Other Choice, the black comedy thriller helmed by Park Chan-wook, is making its entry at the beginning of the 30th Busan International Film Festival. The event will take place in Busan, South Korea, from 17th-26th September 2025.

Not only at BIFF, the film is also slated to be showcased at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival. The event is from 27th August to 6th September 2025.

The film is derived from the 1997 novel penned by Donald E. Westlake, entitled 'The Ax'. It follows the plot of how a man named Man-soo struggles with the consequences of a sudden dismissal from his job. He relentlessly strives to land a new job to support his family, but all in vain. As a result, he begins eradicating every other person who is getting in the way of him and his employment possibilities.

Let us know more about No Other Choice.

Everything about BIFF's opening film No Other Choice

The screening of Park Chan-wook's directorial No Other Choice shall embark the event of the prestigious Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) 2025. This film has been the center of anticipation for quite some time.

Considered as one of the most profilic filmmakers in the world, some of the most well-known films of Park Chan-wook include the films in the Vengeance trilogy (2002, 2003, 2005), I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK (2006), Thirst (2009), Stoker (2013), The Handmaiden (2016), Decision to Leave (2022), to name a few.

The hype for this film automatically rises when Park Chan-wook is directing the film. What also adds to the intrigue is the stellar cast. Actors Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin are in the lead. This is the first time the audience will see the collaboration of these two actors.

Lee Byung-hun plays the role of Man-soo in the film. Apart from the actor's role as the ambiguous and diabolical Front Man a.k.a. Hwang In-ho in the celebrated Netflix series Squid Game. He is recognized for his work in Park Chan-wook's Joint Security Area (2000), Iris (2009), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), I Saw the Devil (2010), Red 2 (2013), Inside Men (2015), Ashfall (2019), etc.

Actor Son Ye-jin embodies the role of Man-soo's wife, Mi-ri. The actor is well known for her work in Alone in Love (2006), The Tower (2012), The Last Princess (2016), Crash Landing on You (2019-2020), to name a few.

Along with them, the cast of the film also includes Park Hee-soon, Yeom Hye-ran, Lee Sung-min, Yoo Yeon-seok, and Cha Seung-won.

The festival director of the Busan International Film Festival, Jung Hanseok, expressed his feelings about the screening of No Other Choice at the festival, stating:

“I am deeply moved and excited to experience the premiere of Park Chan-wook’s desired project alongside diverse audiences on the festival’s opening day,”

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