South Korea has chosen Park Chan-wook’s black-comedy thriller No Other Choice as its submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) made the announcement, placing the nation’s hopes on one of the year’s most buzzed-about films currently with a perfect 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel The Ax, No Other Choice follows You Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), a 25-year-veteran factory worker abruptly fired, who resorts to extreme- and deadly – measures to reclaim his place in the workforce. The film stars Lee with Son Ye-jin as his resourceful wife Mi-ri, supported by Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, Cha Seung-won, and Yoo Yeon-seok.
No Other Choice had its world premiere in competition at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, and is the opening film of the upcoming 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF). It will make its North American premiere at Toronto International Film Festival, where Lee Byung-hun will receive a Special Tribute Award.
Neon will release the film in theaters in select US theaters this Christmas, and nationwide in January 2026.
Here is the official synopsis:
Man-su (Lee Byung Hun), a specialist in paper manufacturing with 25 years of experience, is so satisfied with life that he can truthfully tell himself, “I’ve got it all.” While happily passing his days with his wife Miri (Son Yejin), their two children and two dogs, Man-su is suddenly informed by his company that he has been fired. “We’re sorry. We have no other choice.” Feeling shocked as if his head had been cut off by an ax, Man-su vows to find himself a new job within the next three months for the sake of his family. Despite his firm resolve to turn his life around, Man-su spends over a year drifting from one job interview after another, and working at a retail store. He eventually finds himself in danger of losing the very house that he struggled so hard to buy. Desperate, he visits Moon Paper out of the blue and tries to hand over his CV, but he just ends up getting humiliated by line manager Sun-chul (Park Hee Soon). Man-su knows he is better qualified than anyone to work at Moon Paper, so he comes to a certain decision.
Watch the teaser trailer for No Other Choice above.
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