"The Decision to Leave" Director Park Chan-wook I wanted to make a delicate, elegant, and deep movie [Director's Interview Vol.281]

As Park Chan-wook himself has publicly stated, the film ``Decision to Leave'' distances itself from violence and sex. Despite this, director Park's unique ``sensitivity'' definitely exists in ways that are not visualized. Where on earth will we be taken by this movie, which is shrouded in fog like the city in which it is set? It would be impossible for anyone but Park Chan-wook to complete this movie, which is full of ``suggestions''. The skillfully crafted techniques, supreme direction, and carefully calculated visuals will leave you sighing.

When I asked Park Chan-wook about how he made this film, he spoke quietly and matter-of-factly when he visited Japan.

“The Decision to Leave” synopsis

Detective Hye-joon (Park Hae-il), who is investigating a case in which a man fell to his death from the top of a mountain, and the victim's wife, Seol-eh (Tang Wei), meet during the investigation. As the interrogation progresses, their gazes cross, and emotions that cannot be put into words well up in each of their hearts. Without realizing it, Hye-joon becomes attracted to him, and she also begins to have special feelings for him. Eventually, a clue to the investigation was found, and the case seemed to be solved. However, this was the beginning of a "maze of love" where feelings and doubts about the other person swirled around.

Index

• I wanted to make a film that was delicate, elegant, and deep.
• Meaning with emphasis on “eyes”
• Tan Wei learned Korean from grammar

I wanted to make a film that was delicate, elegant, and deep.

Q: Director Park's films have a unique rhythm, and I think he is a rare storyteller. Rather than drawing you into the story, you feel like you're being rolled around in the palm of Director Park's hand. I especially felt this strongly because the two leads suppressed their emotions this time. How did you create this story?

Park: Thank you. After talking with screenwriter Jeon Seo-kyung, we decided to eliminate as much violent and sexual expressions as possible. I wanted the film to be delicate, elegant, and deep, with the feeling that it was hiding something. I decided to create a love story where the words "I love you" are never uttered. However, no matter how delicate and elegant it is, it is meaningless if the audience cannot feel it. That's why we captured the movements, fluctuations, and subtle facial expressions of the actors' eyes and expressed them using cinematic camera work and editing.

This time, I wanted Tang Wei and Park Hae Il to play the roles, so I met with them before the script was finished and explained everything in words about what kind of movie the movie would be. After the work was completed, they both said to me, ``It turned out just as you told me when we first met.'' Perhaps this movie was already completed to some extent even before the script was written.

Also, I wrote the script while discussing every single word with Jeon Seo-kyung. Therefore, this story contains exactly half of the thoughts of these two people. Although I cannot differentiate their ideas in detail, it was her idea to create a story that begins in the mountains and ends at the sea.

“Decision to Leave” © 2022 CJ ENM Co., Ltd., MOHO FILM. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Q: The theme changed from revenge to love. What kind of change did the director have in mind?

Park: When I say, ``Just like I've done before, I've made a new movie about love this time,'' and everyone laughs. I never joked to make people laugh. Love is depicted in his masterpiece revenge drama ` `Oldboy '' (2003), as well as in `` Thirst '' (2009) and ``The Little Drummer Girl'' (2008 TV). Most of the works I have created so far incorporate love in various forms.

For several years now, I've been wondering why people laugh when I say, ``I made a movie about love.'' If you think about it carefully, the violent, sexual, and physical expressions may be so strong that the audience may forget the inner love and romance. That's why I toned down the violence and sexual scenes this time. I try not to get laughed at when I say, ``I made a movie about love'' (lol). But even if I make another work like `` Oldboy '' next time, I want people to say, ``Park Chan-wook has made another movie about love in a new way.'' I'm looking forward to it.

Meaning with emphasis on “eyes”