There’s No Other Choice but to maintain your status — Side Reviews

My mother used to say that most Costa Ricans have a taste of champagne and a budget of tap water (in fact it is agua dulce which is a very cheap sweet beverage made with brown sugar, but for comedic purposes I’ll say tap water). That phrase kept evolving in my brain as a very striking resemblance of how we, as members of society, have (or probably want) to fit in a certain role model to actually afford that champagne.

Whatever it takes to own a terrain, a house, multiple cars, being part of a country club, paying expensive teaching classes to your kids and the luxury lifestyle your family is living is worth the pain, or is it? That’s exactly what 박찬욱 (Park Chan-wook) is dwelling on 어쩔수가없다 (No Other Choice). He is a very experienced filmmaker that has tried almost every genre possible in the palette of cinema. In this case, he chose satire to study the paradigms of society that pushes our main protagonist to the extreme.

Keep in mind that I watched the film in Korean. I understood most of the ethos with the language of cinema, the support of my smarter partner and my very short experience of the language (about 2 years).

유만수 (Man Soo) is a family man and a role model to society, that has worked in the same paper company for decades. That until they decide to layoff multiple employees, including him, due to the inevitable outcome of AI. After a certain time of being unemployed, he desperately develops a plan to takedown all the possible candidates of the only open role available at the same company. And he will do whatever it takes to be on top.

This time, I will focus on two aspects of the film that struck the most. For one, No Other Choice juxtaposes from the original story of the book The Ax that goes straight into horror. In this new film, the director uses satire to strip the protagonist from his former lifestyle and the effects it has on him. Even if he does what he does, he is still likable and relatable.

His work life balance used to be ritualistic. Man Soo never neglects the basic tasks, he unnecessarily disciplines subordinates and routinely goes to a therapy session with other colleagues to even be more disciplined and loyal to the company. Anything is possible for him, he can make barbecues every weekend, pay for his wife’s lifestyle and so on.

But even in his perfect life, there are cracks on the wall that were only more visible after he became unemployed. The imminent loss of a house, their health issues starting to show, even the way people treat them is diminishing and discriminatory, even now that they don’t have the money to maintain a status quo. It’s as if society reduces them to a lesser human form now that they’re not part of the circle.

His wife, (이미리) Miri (interpreted by 손예진), cannot let go his past lifestyle either and that also causes a toxic motivation for him to hunt such coveted job title. Then the toxic relationship leases them to animals (although I’d argue animals have more purity and feelings than us), leading to a driving force that will slowly affect Man Soo’s own self.

The other thing that also Park Chan Wok loves to deal with on every of his films, It’s the consequences of his actions and what leads to where. Each takedown will affect his mental stability to the point of questioning if what he does was worth it, while also teaching them ways to get out of the competition in the funniest and cutest way possible (you’ll find out when you’ll see it). After all, every human position (especially from a paper company) is ought to be replaced by machines after all.

The movie is less about whether or not he will get the role, but more about how he will deal with his actions from now on and how his own self becomes part of the machine. Again, It’s not a horrifying film, It’s very enjoyable and fun to watch, while also gut wrenching from beginning to end.

Watch No Other Choice as a cautionary and fun tale about the dangers of today’s capitalistic society and to what its doing to our brains. It’s a tale that devalues human rights for human spoiled needs and argues if such driving force is worth it or not. Should I study even after 10pm to enter the best universities? should I kill for that desired role? should I get the SUV car of my dreams to getstuck in an endless traffic from Monday to Friday? should I get married fast without even knowing that person and get the most expensive apartment in front of an unswimmable river? should I just be present with my family or should just hire somebody else to do it for me? Will society change or do we have no choice? is about you, the audience, that will have No Other Choice but to watch the movie and decide what is best for you.

This is Leo S. Luna and welcome to Side Reviews, where I just focus on a specific aspect of a film, video game or show and deep dive into it so you can find something interesting or useful. And why Side? Because I don’t want to write and essay and spoil the work of art for you, but instead I’ll try to spark some interest smaller aspects that I consider to be great. Feel free to follow my work and also support 어쩔수가없다 (No Other Choice) in cinemas.