uk release: 23 january, 2026
directed by: park chan-wook
a few thoughts: park chan-wook has been one of the pioneering south korean filmmakers of the last few decades at least, and has created some of the most immersive film experiences in oldboy (2003) and the handmaiden (2016). i’m yet to watch all of his films – 2022’s decision to leave is one i seemingly missed, and will watch at some point this year, but the ones i have seen are cinematic masterpieces, with immersive and detailed stories that bring beauty, absurdism and entertaining and innovative forms of violence. no other choice is a dark thriller-comedy about the decisions a family man, yoo man-su (portrayed by lee byung-hun) makes after finding out he’s been let go by the company that has hired him for 20 years or so. a fiery and harsh critique of capitalism and this ‘intrinsic’ belief that employment and being a part of the working capitalist machine determines your value as an individual. it’s a comedic masterpiece, with an absurdist and gory approach to highlight how twisted the system is, and how deeply embedded employment is to value and the ability to just live. the cinematography throughout the film was exceptional. so many of the shots and scenes were rich in colour, and the portrayal of what i image to be seoul, in its autumn sun, was a joy to watch and experience. it was such a vibrant, picturesque film that created this feeling of warmth and comfort despite the craziness of the events throughout the film. the music was incredible too, especially that final scene. i won’t spoil too much, but i feel like the end scene is somewhat of a metaphor about the catharsis of letting go from the shackles of capitalism while still being deeply embedded by it. or it’s the false sense of freedom within a system that enslaves humans as working machines. that’s how i interpret it anyways. ultimately, the pacing of the film, the incredible performances, the soundtrack and the story itself were riveting cinema.
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