Movie Review

Korean dark comedy No Other Choice explores desperation after job loss

Lee Byung-hun in No Other Choice.

Photo courtesy of Neon

When Parasite won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2020, it signaled a shift in how international feature films were viewed not only by Academy voters, but also American filmgoers, who made it the fifth-highest grossing non-English language film of all time. Extra attention has been paid to other international films in the intervening years, including the new South Korean film, No Other Choice.

Starring Lee Byung-hun of Squid Game fame, the dark comedy chronicles the increasingly desperate actions of Man-su, a middle manager at a paper factory who is laid off due to automation. After months of trying to find a job at another paper company, he finally finds a good prospect only to learn that several other men may be better candidates. Man-su decides that the only solution is to eliminate the competition.

The only problem is Man-su is a bit of a coward; an early plan at standing up to his company in the face of the lay-offs meets an anticlimactic end. His wishy-washy ways seem to permeate his life, from putting off treatment on a painful tooth to not communicating with his more willful wife to actually going through with his vengeful ideas. He bumbles his way through every aspect of his life, virtually daring anyone to call him out on his poor decision-making.

Written and directed by Park Chan-wook, and co-written by Lee Kyoung-mi, Don McKellar, and Jahye Lee, the film initially seems to be another approach toward telling the class division story that’s at the center of Parasite and Squid Game. And it is that to a degree, as those in charge of the paper companies and the hiring committees are either indifferent or unsympathetic to the plight of those who have been forced out of work.

But the more we see of Man-su, the more it becomes clear that his is a story all its own, one where a man claims there is “no other choice” when in fact there are plenty of other options. The men in the film in general don’t come across well, with many of them reacting to stress by turning into whiners who believe the world is out to get them. Some situations turn violent as the film goes along, events that most of the time could have been avoided if the people involved actually took the time to think things through.

The film features a somewhat confusing story made even more puzzling if you don’t speak Korean. On first viewing, it’s initially unclear why Man-su is doing what he’s doing, or why he’s going after certain people in particular. The plot becomes more understandable as the film progresses, but Chan-wook includes several side plots that muddle things further even as they broaden certain characters. There are also a couple of visual text jokes that can easily be missed if you don’t know where to look.

Byung-hun is great as a man who can’t seem to get out of his own way. The role is almost in direct contrast to the one he played on Squid Game, making it easy to see how well he can adapt to different stories. Son Ye-jin as Man-su’s wife Miri and Lee Sung-min as Bummo, one of Man-su’s intended victims, are also highly engaging.

Like any film not in English, No Other Choice requires viewers to pay strict attention to the screen to get full enjoyment of the actors and their dialogue. While it doesn’t hit as hard as a comedy because of this factor, it’s still a greatly entertaining film whose underlying message makes it become a little deeper.

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No Other Choice will screen seven times, March 12-15, at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

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Weekend Event Planner

These are the 15 best things to do in Fort Worth this weekend

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The middle of March is when the weather fully starts to feel like spring, and this weekend in and around Fort Worth will take advantage with four outdoor events, including three festivals and a big car race. Other choices include screenings of an acclaimed film, two theater productions, a trio of concerts, two well-known comedians, a dance production, the opening of a new art exhibition, and an Oscars watch party.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. If you want more options, check out the calendar for an even longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, March 12

Magnolia at the Modern: No Other Choice
In the South Korean film No Other Choice, paper factory manager Mansu (Lee Byung-Hun) has it all — a beautiful wife; two lovely kids; two golden retrievers; and a gorgeous home with a lush, overgrown garden. But his idyllic existence is threatened when he is suddenly laid off after decades of work. Undeterred, he devises a unique plan to secure a new job: eliminate his competition, literally. There will be seven screenings through Sunday at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.

Stage West Theatre presents A Case for the Existence of God
In a small office cubicle in an Idaho town, Keith is helping Ryan navigate one of the routine convolutions of modern life: a mortgage loan application. What begins in awkward exchange deepens into something profound, as these two very different men, both fathers of young daughters, open up to one another about their struggles to secure a future. The production runs through March 29 at Stage West Theatre.

Paul Wall in concert
Houston rapper Paul Wall hit it big over 20 years ago with his second album, 2005's The People's Champ, which went to No. 1 on the Rap, R&B, and Billboard 200 charts. After a few more well-received albums, he hasn't made it back on the charts, but he maintains a great reputation in his home state. He's gone on to release 15 albums in his career, most recently Once Upon a Grind in 2024. He'll celebrate his birthday with performances on Thursday and Friday at Billy Bob's Texas.

Friday, March 13

Java House Grand Prix of Arlington
The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington will feature a 2.73-mile track layout that will weave through Arlington’s sports and entertainment district, which includes both AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, as well as Choctaw Stadium, the Arlington Convention Center, and more. There will be practice and qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday before the main event on Sunday. All Time Low, T-Pain, Giovannie and the Hired Guns, and Disco Lines will provide musical entertainment on different days.

Improv Arlington presents Shawn Wayans
Shawn Wayans is the second youngest brother in the famous Wayans family, getting his start in the late 1980s in the movie I'm Gonna Get You Sucka and as part of the cast of comedy series In Living Color. This summer, he and his brother Marlon are returning to the Scary Movie franchise for the first time in 25 years. He'll perform four times through Saturday at Improv Arlington.

Katt Williams: The Golden Age Tour
Stand-up comedian, actor, and rapper Katt Williams is known for his insightful, often polarizing material. The once emancipated teenager performs comedy on his own terms, giving an articulate, sharp dialogue that surfaces with names like Trump, Cosby, and NASA, but is rooted in evergreen conversations like politics, race relations, and police brutality. He'll perform at Dickies Arena.

Texas Ballet Theater presents Diversions
Texas Ballet Theater's mixed repertoire production, Diversions, features four diverse works that showcase unparalleled versatility. The works include Violin Concerto in D, a sweeping classical marvel of white tutus and tiaras set to Tchaikovsky’s masterful score; Diversion of Angels, Martha Graham’s modern masterpiece exploring the poetic complexities of love in its many forms through bold, vivid choreography; Bolero, a heartfelt tribute blending the timeless sounds of life with contemporary expression; and Company B, a neoclassical ballet that is an energetic wartime homage set to the iconic swing rhythms of the Andrews Sisters. The production will have four performances through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Saturday, March 14

Tarrant Regional Water District presents Trinity Flyfest
Trinity Flyfest is a family-friendly outdoor event celebrating fly fishing, nature, and time spent together on the Trinity River. Families can enjoy hands-on fly fishing activities, casting demonstrations, interactive booths, and fun learning opportunities for all ages experience levels. All levels are welcome, and no prior fishing experience is needed. The event takes place at Trinity Trails River Park Trailhead.

Fort Worth Stockyards presents Cowtown Goes Green
Fort Worth's largest and most family-friendly St. Patrick’s Day celebration will feature an entire day of Irish-Western fun. The event includes festive food and drink, live music, armadillo races, lawn games, pony rides, Old West gunfight shows, dance troops, cattle drives, a special matinee Stockyards Championship Rodeo at 1:30 pm, and an Irish-Western parade at 4 pm. The event takes place in the Fort Worth Stockyards.

Mid Cities Arts Collective presents Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables captures the charm and excitement of L.M. Montgomery's enduring classic about an orphan girl, Anne Shirley, from her first encounter with her austere guardian to her thrilling graduation from Queen's Academy. The play faithfully recreates the memorable events and characters from the novel. The production runs through March 22 at Platinum Music Complex NRH.

Fort Worth Water Lantern Festival
The Fort Worth Water Lantern Festival is a celebration of light and community. This evening will be filled with food trucks, music, activities, and thousands of lanterns lighting up the night with love, hope, and happiness. It takes place at Panther Island Pavilion.

B2K and Bow Wow in concert
After two decades, iconic R&B group B2K — who are celebrating their 25th anniversary — will officially reunite for the Boys 4 Life tour. The tour also marks more than 20 years since B2K and Bow Wow, who is co-headlining, first shared the stage during 2002’s Scream Tour II, a pivotal cultural milestone that helped define a generation. They'll perform at Dickies Arena.

Tanner Usrey in concert
Prosper native Tanner Usrey is an emerging singer/songwriter with a vocal styling all his own. The soulful, Americana-rock artist puts forth heart-wrenching lyrics and soul-touching vocals, notably in his single "The Light," which appeared in the Season 4 finale of Yellowstone. He'll play at Billy Bob's Texas in support of his 2025 album, These Days. This concert will also serve as a birthday celebration for Usrey, whose birthday is March 11.

Sunday, March 15

Kimbell Art Museum presents "The Holy Sepulcher: Treasures from the Terra Sancta Museum, Jerusalem" opening day
"The Holy Sepulcher: Treasures from the Terra Sancta Museum, Jerusalem" showcases more than 60 objects in silver, gold, enamel, and precious jewels, given by the Catholic rulers of Europe; the Holy Roman Emperors in Vienna; and the monarchs of Portugal, Spain, France, and Naples to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Traveling to only two venues in North America, the exhibition represents the first and possibly only time these treasures will be seen in the U.S. The exhibition will be on display through June 28 at Kimbell Art Museum.

The Modern presents Academy Awards Watch Party
For movie lovers, there's no bigger event than the annual Academy Awards, aka the Oscars. This year's ceremony honors one of the better movie years in recent history, with films like One Battle After Another, Sinners, and Marty Supreme vying for multiple awards. For the first time, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth will host an Academy Awards Watch Party in their in-house movie theater, presented by The Reel House Foundation.

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The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington will take place in the Arlington Entertainment District, March 13-15.

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