Decision To Leave [Blu-ray]

This is another of the outstanding films from the Far East of which there have been so many this century (In the Mood for Love, Spirited Away, A One and a Two, Parasite, Drive my Car, etc.). Clearly inspired by Hitchcock’s Vertigo, and with several scenes at great heights, it tells of a detective investigating the case of a man found dead at the foot of a steep mountain, whose Chinese wife seems totally unsurprised when informed of it. Fast-moving and quite complicated to follow, with much of the “dialogue” in text-messaging, it needs to be watched at least twice (first time round I completely missed the significance of a phone-swap). The devastating ending is stunning.

PARK demontre dans ” decision to leave” une maitrise absolue de la realisation. Chaque plan est a voir et revoir. Ce film necessite de multiples vision un peu comme Mulholland drive de david Lynch

This is a review for the superb January 2023 Region B2 Blu-ray from MUBI. It comes with several extras, and some quality scene cards. The picture is immaculate, the sound superb, and the English subtitles for the Korean and Mandarin Chinese dialogue, clear, concise and timely. This is a seriously superior product.

Park Chan-wook is one of modern cinemas most interesting, versatile and impressive directors, and is one of a select group who also write or co-write their own screenplays ~ as he did here. He is also one of a small but growing group (including Bong Joon-ho and Kim Jee-woon) who have elevated Korean cinema on the world stage, so that it can now hold it’s own with the long established powerhouses of Japan, China and Hong Kong. With Park’s back catalogue including such major films as ‘Oldboy'(2003), and ‘The Handmaiden'(2016), his work deserves attention.

So, it was exciting to discover that he had a new film out, and we ordered it on release. And I am delighted to say, unequivocally, that our faith in Park was 100% justified, because, it is a STONKER! Like many of Park’s films, it is NOT for the faint-hearted, as it weighs in at an amazing 139 minutes. It also involves a deliciously complex and multi-layered murder mystery plot, running alongside another investigation being undertaken by a busy detective squad in the bustling port city of Busan. But if you enjoy meaty, complex, crime films, deeply touching romances or indeed films which provide a richly-textured insight into other cultures, then jump right in!

The film is gorgeously shot: around Busan including its spectacular nearby mountain scenery; several glorious seaside locations including Bunam Beach in Gangwon; and the exquisite Songgwangsa Temple near Suncheon. The interiors too are richly detailed. And Park uses a fascinating technique: when he is showing someone hearing a telephone intercept or otherwise overhearing or observing, unknown to the subject, he places the listener or observer (subjectively) in the room with the subject. This makes many of the scenes particularly intimate.

There is a lot of seriously interesting content here, about modern Korea. We discover that Korea receives boatloads of illegal immigrants from China, very reminiscent of the UK’s experience. We see how Korea’s social services operate, caring for the bed-bound elderly. We find that away from the major cities, violent crime is rare, but that just as here, criminals come in all shapes and sizes. It is worth noting that the film does contain some incidental violence and some shocks, but it is nothing like as violent as other Park films, particularly ‘Oldboy’.

The performances are exceptional, particularly Park Hae-il as Detective Jang Hae-jun, and Chinese actress Tang Wei, as Song Seo-rae. Park is a major star in Korea, having started his career in Bong Joon-ho’s superb ‘Memories of Murder'(2003). His performance here is subtle and heartfelt. Tang has won awards, and she delivers a wonderful and touching performance here.

We loved this film. It does require all your concentration, but it is rewarding on a host of levels, and we intend to watch it again very soon, to get more from it’s rich layers. This is a genuine 6 Star film, if ever there was one.