Driven to Desperation: ‘No Other Choice’ Review

Desperation can drive people to do things that they typically would not do. Things that compromise their morality and their character in general. Serving as the overarching theme of Park Chan-wook’s latest film, ‘No Other Choice,’ the director takes the audience on a wild and hilarious ride through just how far someone is willing to go to take care of their family. While at times the audience will feel the run time, ‘No Other Choice’ provides a compelling parable about desperation and the capitalist societies that drive it. Leaving the audience with something to chew as they leave the theater.

Having worked at the same paper company for 25 years, Man-su has acquired a considerable number of accolades inclusive of such awards as Pulp Man of the Year. Which explains his shock when an American company buys the paper company and dismisses him from his duties. Expecting a quick turn around, Man-su and his family change very little about how they live. Continuing to live somewhat lavish, albeit subdued lives. Things falling away from the plan and driven to desperation, Man-su devises a plan to ensure he is the BEST candidate for a job at another paper company: murder his competition. What ensues is a rather hilarious, yet dark look at what desperation can do to a man that has to feed his family.

Truly Likable Characters

For ‘No Other Choice’ to effectively get its message across, it’s extremely important that the characters not only be convincing, but likeable. If Man-su was a bad father or prone to the actions he takes, the film just wouldn’t work. That, however, is not an issue as the characters come off as genuinely likeable people and thus their desperation is a believable aspect of the story. It’s clear that Man-su has the best interest of his family in mind and that, outside of these circumstances, he would not act in the way that he does in the film.

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‘No Other Choice’ continually drives this point home almost to a fault. The audience spends a lot of time with Man-su as he works up the nerve to take action, which makes up the lion’s share of the run time. Unfortunately, this works as a double edged sword. While the understanding of how hard Man-su’s actions are for him to take is important, the film gets drawn out far too much and can at times feel long and boring. That’s not to say the film does not get back to the messaging and dark comedy, but it tends to lose the audience for lengths of time that it really shouldn’t. Simply put, some of the film was better left on the cutting room floor.

Of course, none of this is possible if not for the exceptional cast. Lee Byung-hun portrays Man-su quite well. Byung-hun has an ability to portray a loving father that could truly be any of us. He’s sympathetic. The audience feels bad for the position that Man-su finds himself in and so the level of understanding comes natural. The foil to Man-su is his wife, Miri, played by Son Ye-jin to perfection. Overtime, Miri begins to put the pieces together and she is eventually left with a choice. Ye-jin masterfully portrays the change that occurs throughout the film. Much like Man-su, she is very much a victim as well and needs a level of sympathy that Ye-jin is able to cultivate through her performance.

A Prescient Parable

Where ‘No Other Choice’ finds itself to be the most successful is its overarching story and message. It’s relatable on an almost cellular level. You will be hard pressed to find anyone that is not willing to do whatever it takes to take care of their family. As the price of goods go up and job markets begin to dwindle, we are finding many of our neighbors and friends and family members in similar situations.

The film moves further than that folding in the impending issues that AI is presenting not only in discerning what information is real or not, but in the workplace as companies are increasingly looking for ways to save money. Park Chan-wook meets the audience where they are in this way and it truly makes the film work. The level of understanding that Park gives the audience through his characters makes ‘No Other Choice’ one that sticks with them like a kernel in their teeth.

Final Thought:

‘No Other Choice’ is a truly important film at a time when more and more people are losing their jobs and AI is seeing a marked rise in use. The film, while prescient, tends to drag at times, leaving the audience easily disengaged from what the director is trying to present. This, however, is not entirely damning as ‘No Other Choice’ manages to rope the audience in exactly when it should leaving them with stark contrast of the real world that they live in.

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