Busan [South Korea], August 4 : The 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) has selected critically acclaimed director Park Chan-Wook's 'No Other Choice' as its opening film, reported Variety.
It will mark the return of Park Chan to the big screens three years after 'Decision to Leave', for which he won best director at Cannes.
According to the outlet, the film stars 'Squid Game' actor Lee Byung-hun in the lead role. He plays the role of Man-su, a man whose comfortable life unravels when he's suddenly dismissed from his job, forcing him into a desperate struggle to protect his wife Miri (Son Yejin), their two children, and their home, reported Variety.
The story follows Man-su as he embarks on what the festival describes as "his own war of survival."
Lee, who will also serve as host of this year's opening ceremony, teams up with Son Yejin for their first on-screen pairing as a married couple.
The cast also includes Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won.
Park described the project as a "long-awaited passion project" at BIFF 2019, and the film will receive its Asian premiere in Busan, following its world premiere at Venice, as reported by Variety.
"I am deeply moved and excited to experience the premiere of Park Chan-wook's desired project alongside diverse audiences on the festival's opening day," said BIFF festival director Jung Hanseok.
"I sincerely hope that its selection will build meaningful momentum to garner greater attention and foster renewed interest in Korean cinema," added Jung as quoted by Variety.
The selection comes at a significant moment for Korean cinema, with BIFF positioning the film as one that "embodies what audiences most hope to see" and can "reinvigorate Korean cinema at this pivotal moment."
Park made his directorial debut with 'The Moon Is... the Sun's Dream' (1992) and went on to create groundbreaking works including 'Joint Security Area' (2000), the Vengeance trilogy ('Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance,' 'Oldboy,' 'Sympathy for Lady Vengeance'), 'Thirst' (2009), 'The Handmaiden' (2016), and 'Decision to Leave' (2022).
The director has been invited to the Cannes competition section four times and has been honoured with the Grand Prix, Prix du Jury, and Prix de la mise en scène, making him the first Korean director to achieve all three distinctions, reported Variety.
The 30th Busan International Film Festival will run from September 17 to September 26.