9-Minute Standing Ovation! “No Other Choice” Premieres in Venice to 100% Fresh Score and Rave Reviews



Director Park Chan-wook’s film “No Other Choice” had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, receiving glowing reviews and raising anticipation for awards.

Invited to the Competition section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and selected as the Opening Film of the 30th Busan International Film Festival, “No Other Choice” was unveiled to the world for the first time at its Venice World Premiere. The screening took place on the 29th (local time) at 9:45 p.m. in the festival’s main venue, the Sala Grande, which seats 1,032. Director Park Chan-wook, along with cast members Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, and Yum Hye-ran, attended the event, where the audience filled the hall and responded with a standing ovation and thunderous applause, lighting up the festival night.



Prior to the screening, Park and the actors graced the red carpet, smiling with composure in response to the intense media coverage from outlets across the globe. The fervent attention toward the stars of “No Other Choice” carried over into the packed theater.

As the film began and music filled the hall, applause erupted. Immersed in Park Chan-wook’s gripping survival drama, the audience soon fell into hushed silence. The tension-filled yet rhythmically unfolding narrative heightened engagement, while bursts of ironic humor sparked laughter throughout. The actors’ nuanced performances and seamless synergy enriched the characters with depth, elegantly driving the story forward and offering fresh delights. Park’s signature mise-en-scène and meticulous score amplified the film’s intensity, pulling viewers fully into his cinematic world.





The wave of applause inside the theater was echoed by glowing reviews from major foreign media. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film achieved a rare 100% Fresh rating, cementing itself as one of the most anticipated films of the fall. The Guardian wrote, “Park Chan-wook’s signature blend of elegance and firm confidence propels the narrative. It begins like a comedy of errors but swiftly transforms into something else entirely — a portrait of family collapse, patriarchal crisis, and the state of the nation.”





Screen International praised it as “a masterful blend of psychological tension and laugh-out-loud moments.” Variety described it as “decisive proof that Park Chan-wook is one of the most dignified directors working today — a mesmerizing black comedy.” IndieWire noted, “A brilliant, brutal, bitter yet humorous satire on capitalism. Lee Byung-hun’s graceful performance is the core that sustains Park’s tragicomic tone.” And Next Best Picture raved, “With this film, Park Chan-wook once again proves himself to be one of the most inventive filmmakers alive today. His trademark camerawork and editing remain innovative and striking.”


Written by Kim Mi Hwa 
Translated by Lee So Yun