'No Other Choice' movie review: Taut thriller rich in symbolism, visual poetry

Imagine if one wrong turn at work flips your life upside down, and pulls you into a web of difficult choices. ‘No Other Choice’, Park Chan-wook's latest thriller, tells the story of Man-su, a regular guy who works in a paper factory. He lives with his family in a beautiful home that boasts a lush green garden, until the axe falls. 

Following his unceremonious lay-off, Man-su is confronted with navigating life in a conservative South Korean society that subscribes to the belief that "fired means finished". 

In South Korea, getting fired is not just about losing a pay cheque. It is looked down on, your family is shamed and your dreams buried. Once, Man-su's prized garden was bursting with perfect blooms. Now, they stand wilting and weeds choke the pathway - a symbol of his control slipping away. 

Kim Woo-hyung's camera dances wild here, like in Park's other films 'Decision to Leave' and 'The Handmaiden'. Think wide-angle shots, fast swooping scenes and close-ups of the characters' faces, which almost reveal their souls. The visual poetry turns everyday spaces into a cinematographic treat.

Gore is central to Park’s films. In this one, he makes it more deliberate to ensure viewers feel Man-su’s and his family’s desperation. He ignores his tooth ache, cuts back on his prodigious daughter’s cello classes, his son turns to robbery and they give up their beloved dogs.

‘No Other Choice’ is another of Park’s signature visual feasts. The taut crime drama, a film festival favourite, is a must watch.