[Kulture Issue] Analysis of Director Park Chan-wook's "No Other Choice" at Venice Int'l Film Festival

The Venice International Film Festival is underway in the beautiful Italian city of Venice.

And for the first time in 13 years, a Korean movie is competing for a top award at this prestigious film event.

It's "No Other Choice" by director Park Chan-wook.

Expectations for the movie are high, with the local release in cinemas scheduled for next month.

Let’s have a deeper talk with our movie expert Jae Soh, professor and filmmaker at Seoul Institute of the Arts.

Welcome back Professor Soh!

Q1. Professor Soh, let’s begin with the significance of a Korean film having made it into the main competition section at the Venice International Film Festival. How do you assess this inclusion and what is "No Other Choice" about?

Q2. The movie has been getting a lot of attention since the cast including Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin was revealed.

There are high expectations regarding the chemistry between the actors.

Tell us more about the roles please.

Q3. "No Other Choice" is based on the American novel "The Ax"(Donald Westlake), just like Bong Joon-ho's "Mickey 17" was based on the American novel "Mickey7".

Both can be seen as an example of a Korean director reinterpreting a foreign novel.

What kind of Korean-style interpretation can we anticipate this time?

Q4. At a press conference for the movie, actor Lee Byung-hun described the film as being both humorous and sad.

What do you expect from director Park’s attempt at dark humor in this film and what are some of his previous works that share a similar tone?

Q5. "No Other Choice" has been not only been invited to Venice but also to the Busan, Toronto, and New York film festivals.

What impact do you think its presence at such events will bring to the Korean film industry going forward?

Q6. Director Park Chan-wook has tackled various genres including horror, melodrama, and thriller throughout his career.

Could this new work mark a turning point or a new phase in his filmography?

Q7. Finally, how do you view the chances of this work winning an award at Venice?

Also, regardless of whether it wins, what impact will this have on its domestic and international release in September?

Can't wait to watch it.

Thank you very much Professor Soh for your insights.

Thank you Bella, have a great weekend.

Thank YOU for spending the past half an hour with us on "the Kulture Wave".

Enjoy the last weekend of August everyone!

We'll be back on Monday, 2 p.m. Korea time.