Back in April, Korean media was reporting that Park Chan-wook was working on a new film, this one a remake of Costa-Gavras’ “The Ax,” which Park has been trying to make for many years.
Production is set to begin in Seoul on August 17. A poster was released for the occasion, which can be seen below — English translation has the film titled as “Can’t Help It.”
The cast includes Cha Seung Won, Park Hee Soon, Yoon Ga Yi, Lee Byung Hun and Son Ye Jin. Notably, Lee already teamed up with Park on 2000’s “Joint Security Area” and 2004’s “Three Extremes.” Meanwhile, Cha was in “Oldboy.”
Here’s the synopsis:
Bruno loved his job as a middle manager at a paper company, but optimistically views being laid off as an opportunity. After two years of searching for a comparable position, the optimism turns to desperation. His wife, Marlene, is working two jobs, and their marriage is deteriorating as their hold on the middle class slips away. Bruno concocts a grimly audacious plan to identify and kill his fellow job applicants so that he is the only qualified person left.
The film, described as Park’s “lifelong passion project,” will be his first outing since 2022’s acclaimed “Decision to Leave.” He also co-created, wrote and directed the recent acclaimed HBO limited series “The Sympathizer.”
Park, 60, is the Korean mastermind behind “Oldboy,” “The Handmaiden” “Decision to Leave” and “Lady Vengeance.” His films, usually set in thriller or noir territory, delve deeply into the physical and psychological violence of its characters. Park loves to depict sex and murder.
In all likelihood, expect Park’s film to premiere at Cannes 2025.
