"Transforming a Universal Tragedy into Humor"
The Korean Film Council announced on September 3 that director Park Chanwook's new film "No Other Choice" has been selected as South Korea's official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards, which will be held in March next year.
The selection committee stated, "We determined that this film is the most competitive among the submissions in every evaluation category, including its stable cinematic quality, its treatment of the weighty and contemporary theme of 'layoffs,' the outstanding performances of the lead actors, and the acquisition of a capable North American distributor." The committee added, "We believe the irony of transforming a universally relatable tragedy into humor will be met with enthusiasm by Academy voters."
The Best International Feature Film category is open to films produced outside the United States, with only one entry allowed per country. This year, "12.12: The Day" was submitted as Korea's official entry but did not win an award.
"No Other Choice" depicts the struggles of Mansoo (played by Lee Byunghun), a laid-off family man, as he fights to find new employment. The film is based on Donald Westlake's novel "The Ax."
The film was invited to the competition section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and had its world premiere on August 29. With major international media outlets offering high praise, anticipation is rising for the film to be nominated in key categories at next year's Academy Awards.
Director Park, who has gained international acclaim with works such as "Oldboy" (2003) and "The Handmaiden" (2016), is regarded as a master of Korean cinema. He is expected to once again demonstrate his presence on the global stage with this latest film.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
