Park Chan-wook Reflects on Venice Loss: ‘It Already Feels Like a Win’

Director Park Chan-wook’s latest film, No Other Choice (Eojjeol Su Ga Eopda), came up short at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, missing out on an award.

On the 6th (local time), the winners of the competition section were announced at the festival’s closing ceremony, held on Lido Island in Venice, Italy.

The top prize, the Golden Lion, went to director Jim Jarmusch for Father Mother Sister Brother, a trilogy exploring the relationships between parents and children.

No Other Choice marked a significant milestone for Korean cinema as the first Korean film in 13 years to be invited to the competition section at Venice since Kim Ki-duk’s Pieta (2012). For Park Chan-wook, it was his first return to the Venice competition in 20 years, following Three, Monster (2004) and Lady Vengeance (2005), making this moment even more meaningful.



No Other Choice tells the story of Mansu (played by Lee Byung-hun), an office worker who, feeling utterly content with life, is suddenly laid off. To protect his wife and two children—and to hold on to the home he worked so hard to buy—he prepares for a personal battle to find new employment, setting the stage for a gripping family drama.



Premiering worldwide at Venice, No Other Choice received a thunderous nine-minute standing ovation and cheers from the audience, making headlines for its powerful reception.

After the closing ceremony, director Park Chan-wook shared, “The audience response was better than for any film I’ve ever made, so it already feels like I’ve received a major award.”

President Lee Jae-myung also took to social media, writing, “Regardless of the award outcome, the fact that a Korean film has entered the competition at Venice for the first time in 13 years is a meaningful achievement in itself.”

President Lee added, “Director Park Chan-wook’s work has once again elevated the status of Korean cinema. His profound insight and unique aesthetics, shown through his film, will surely remain deeply etched in the hearts of movie fans around the world.”

Having received critical acclaim after its world premiere, No Other Choice was considered a strong contender for an award. Now, the film will represent Korea in the International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards, aiming for Oscar glory once again.

No Other Choice is set for domestic release on September 24.

Photo Credit: Xportsnews, CJ ENM

This article is a translated version of the original Korean article published by Xportsnews, originally written by Oh Seunghyun. This article was translated from Korean using AI-assisted tools and human review to deliver an accurate and culturally appropriate version for international readers.