Film at Lincoln Center Podcast #624 - Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung Hun on No Other Choice
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Oct 13, 2025 Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun delve into the dark themes of their new thriller, exploring the cutthroat nature of modern work culture. They reflect on their long friendship and past collaborations while discussing the adaptation of a Westlake novel, infusing it with contemporary Korean elements like real-estate obsession. Lee shares insights on physical comedy within the film, likening it to classic slapstick. The duo balances the tones of rage, comedy, and tragedy, highlighting the absurdity of Mansoo's journey.
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Longtime Collaboration Reunited
- Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun stayed close after JSA and reconnected to make No Other Choice after many years apart.
- Lee joked that Park finally accepted his ideas on this film, making him nervous about being responsible if it failed.
Why The Novel Fit Korea And Now
- Park first read the novel in 2004–05 and began adapting it around 2009 because he immediately saw its cinematic potential.
- He updated the setting to Korea and emphasized real estate obsession and patriarchal family duties to resonate with contemporary Korean society.
Modern Tech And A Changed Ending
- Park altered the story to reflect AI and automation, using an automatic lights-out system as a plot element.
- He also changed the ending by having Mansoo's wife and son discover his actions, shifting the film's emotional stakes.
