Korean film-Venice film fest

▲ A still from "No Other Choice" is seen in this image provided by CJ ENM. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲ A still from "No Other Choice," provided by CJ ENM, shows Man-soo, portrayed by Lee Byung-hun, in the film. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Korean film-Venice film fest

Rave reviews make 'No Other Choice' top Venice contender

By Woo Jae-yeon

SEOUL, Sept. 1 (Yonhap) -- Park Chan-wook's latest film, "No Other Choice," has received critical acclaim following its international premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, emerging as one of the strongest contenders for the top prize.

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes as of Monday, the film holds an impressive 100 percent from an initial batch of 17 reviews, which have lauded the film's blend of dark humor and social commentary.

"No Other Choice isn't just Park's funniest film, but his most humane, too, and that's quite something for a comedy as violent as this one," BBC wrote.

"The film is extremely amusing, certainly, but it's simultaneously a poignant study of the desperation of the long-term jobless and the needless cruelty of the corporate world. It's also a warning," wrote Screen International.

Guardian said, "It may not be Park's masterpiece but it is the best film in the Venice competition so far."

"The rare film that feels sympathetic toward its protagonist without ever rooting for him, and Lee's elastic performance as Man-soo is key to the balancing act of Park's tragicomic tone," according to IndieWire, which described the film as one that is "unanimously liked by critics and audiences," and among "the strongest Venice Film Festival contenders so far."

Last Friday, Park's 12th feature film received a lengthy standing ovation after its screening, heightening anticipation ahead of Saturday's announcement of the festival's top prize, the Golden Lion.

Adapted from the mystery novel "The Ax" by American writer Donald E. Westlake, "No Other Choice" is a dark thriller following Man-soo, a middle-aged man who, after being abruptly fired from a paper company, takes extreme measures to secure a new job by dealing with his competitors.

In addition to its success in Venice, "No Other Choice" is will open this year's Busan International Film Festival, which runs from Sept. 17-26.

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