Imagine waking up one morning to find that your entire life's work has been rendered obsolete by the cold, unforgiving hand of technological progress. This is the harsh reality that greets Yoo Man-su, the protagonist of Park Chan-wook's latest black comedy thriller, No Other Choice. As a devoted husband and father who has toiled for decades at a paper mill, Man-su is sent into an existential tailspin when he's laid off and forced to confront the dark underbelly of modern capitalism.
But here's where it gets controversial: Man-su's response to this crisis is not to organize a union or fight for workers' rights, but to embark on a series of absurd and tragic misadventures that ultimately lead him to commit terrible acts of violence against his fellow laborers. And this is the part most people miss: despite the film's pitch-black humor and Looney Tunes-like physical comedy, No Other Choice is a scathing critique of the capitalist system and the ways in which it pits ordinary people against each other in a desperate struggle for survival.
Park Chan-wook, the great Korean auteur behind films like Joint Security Area, Oldboy, and The Handmaiden, has always been known for his bold and uncompromising vision, but No Other Choice may be his most urgent and timely work yet. As the world grapples with the challenges of automation, AI, and climate change, Park's film asks a profound question: do we really have no other choice but to surrender to the forces of technological determinism, or is there still a way for ordinary people to resist and fight back?
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Park discussed the long and winding road that led to the making of No Other Choice, which was adapted from Donald Westlake's 1997 novel The Ax. "I read the book about two decades ago, and I immediately knew I wanted to adapt it into a film," Park recalled. "It's a story that deals with the urgent inner world of an individual as well as the big societal issues that surround him. Adapting it would allow me to explore both of these dimensions in a totally seamless way — and that's the kind of cinematic subject matter directors are always looking for."
One of the key themes of No Other Choice is the way in which the capitalist system creates a culture of self-delusion and moral contortionism, where people are forced to justify their own exploitation and oppression in order to survive. As Park noted, "the capitalist system's nature is to make ordinary folks point knives at each other," and this is precisely what happens to Man-su, who becomes convinced that the only way to save his family is to eliminate his rivals in the job market.
But Man-su is no slickly skilled killer, and his bumbling attempts at violence are both hilarious and heartbreaking. As Park observed, "the humor stands out much more in this film than in most of my other works," and this is largely due to the absurdity of Man-su's situation and the Looney Tunes-like physical comedy that ensues.
One of the most striking scenes in the film takes place when Man-su confronts his first victim, Beom-mo, in a living room showdown that is both tense and ridiculous. As the two men face off against each other, the classic Korean rock song "Red Dragonfly" by Cho Yong-pil blasts in the background, creating a sense of nostalgia and longing that is both poignant and hilarious.
As Park explained, "I wanted to utilize the commonality between Man-su and Beom-mo, who both have a hobby that's also a passion. Man-su locks himself in his greenhouse all the time, working on bonsai trees and plants for his garden. Beom-mo is really into audio and vinyl records." This shared passion creates a sense of connection between the two men, but it also highlights the absurdity of their situation and the ways in which they are pitted against each other by the capitalist system.
Despite the film's dark humor and absurdity, No Other Choice is ultimately a deeply serious and thought-provoking work that challenges viewers to confront the harsh realities of modern capitalism. As Park noted, "we are definitely in a position where it's hard to be optimistic," but he also believes that there is still a way for ordinary people to resist and fight back against the forces of technological determinism.
So, do we really have no other choice but to surrender to the forces of capitalism and technological progress? Or is there still a way for ordinary people to resist and fight back? These are the questions that No Other Choice poses, and they are questions that will haunt viewers long after the credits roll. As Park observed, "it's still too early for us to completely give up. Despite our many tragedies and mistakes, we have to believe that humankind has the potential to make progress."
