[OSENWORLD] Audiences had no other choice but to applaud when Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun unveiled their latest film No Other Choice at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival. The Gala Presentations premiere on September 8 (local time) ended with a thunderous standing ovation, confirming the duo’s star power on the global stage.
Before the screening, Park and Lee walked the red carpet, greeting reporters and fans with smiles, posing for selfies and signing autographs. The evening also brought a milestone moment: Lee Byung-hun became the first Korean actor ever to receive TIFF’s Special Tribute Award, presented to artists recognized for outstanding contributions to cinema.
Reflecting on the long-awaited project, Lee said: “I first heard about this story from director Park 15 years ago. Now, finally, we are able to bring it to the screen. I’m certain it’s a film audiences should not miss. I hope viewers will inevitably be drawn to it, just as I was.”
No Other Choice follows Mansu (Lee Byung-hun), a company man who believed he had achieved fulfillment — until he is suddenly laid off. Struggling to protect his wife, two children, and the home he fought to secure, Mansu wages a personal war for re-employment in Park’s latest exploration of human resilience.
Following its Venice debut, No Other Choice continues to solidify its position as a global festival sensation. Combining dramatic storytelling, striking mise-en-scène, and sharp-edged black comedy, the film is poised to deliver a bold cinematic experience when it opens in Korea on September 24.
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
Courtesy of CJ ENM
