(L to R) Director Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun focus on ‘No Different Alternative’.
Opening in theaters in large launch on January ninth is the brand new South Korean movie from legendary director Park Chan-wook known as ‘No Different Alternative’, which stars ‘Squid Recreation’s Lee Byung-hun.
Launch Date: Dec 25, 2025
Run Time: 2 hr 19 min
Price range: $12,200,000
Moviefone not too long ago had the consideration of talking with director Park Chan-wook and Lee Byung-hun about their work on ‘No Different Alternative’, the themes director Park wished to discover, Byung-hun’s method to his character, and why he likes working with director Park.
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Director Park Chan-wook on the set of ‘No Different Alternative’. Photograph: CJ Leisure.
Moviefone: To start with, Director Park, are you able to speak concerning the core themes that you just wished to discover with this film and what compelled you to inform this particular story?
Park Chan-wook: It is arduous to choose one core theme. I must say the primary one is job insecurity and the method of dropping one’s job. The second theme can be the wishes of the center class. Despite the fact that our primary character is not about to instantly starve, he goes very far to get his job again to take care of the life-style of a center class. The ultimate theme can be the exploration of masculinity and that twisted sense of duty that our primary character feels as a father and a husband.
Lee Byung-hun stars in ‘No Different Alternative’. Photograph: CJ Leisure.
MF: Byung-hun, are you able to discuss your method to taking part in this character, the totally different ranges that you just needed to create, and what ingredient of the character you had been in a position to relate to?
Lee Byung-hun: I believe what was engaging to me about this character of Man Soo is that he is an abnormal man that could be very protecting and loving of his household. After all, there are traces of patriarchal construction on this character as effectively. It is a very abnormal man that’s confronted with very drastic conditions, and he’s simply doing one line of labor for 25 years when immediately he experiences dropping his job, and that leaves him utterly off kilter. He very clumsily navigates all these decision-making processes on this course of and is in that technique of dropping a way of morality. It’d look humorous to the viewers, however he’s slowly remodeling right into a homicide. I believe what I actually wished to ensure of is to have the ability to persuade the viewers of this altering course of in Man Soo. That was each difficult as an actor, but in addition extremely enjoyable and rewarding.
Director Park Chan-wook on the set of ‘No Different Alternative’. Photograph: CJ Leisure.
MF: Lastly, Byung-hun, what do you get pleasure from most about working with director Park and what it’s like collaborating with him as an actor on set?
LBH: Since working collectively on ‘Joint Safety Space’ 25 years in the past, I all the time knew that Director Park loves having conversations and speaking with the actors and having the ability to discover new concepts via these conversations. All through our 25 years of friendship, it is not simply filmmaking that we have talked about. Over a drink, we have talked about many subjects, together with life and society. I believe these elements of Director Park actually makes the set worthwhile for me. So even when a scene is especially bodily taxing or mentally painful, I believe I nonetheless actually benefit from the expertise as a result of we’re in a position to discuss these concepts and create a type of synergy, and there is all the time a heat temper surrounding the manufacturing of the movie.
Editorial Notice: This interview was carried out with the usage of a translator.
(L to R) Son Ye-jin and Lee Byung-hun star in ‘No Different Alternative’. Photograph: CJ Leisure.
What’s the plot of ‘No Different Alternative’?
After being laid off and humiliated by a ruthless job market, a veteran paper mill supervisor (Lee Byung-hun) descends into violence in a determined bid to reclaim his dignity.
Who’s within the forged of ‘No Different Alternative’?
‘No Different Alternative’ opens in theaters on January ninth.