Decision to Leave

Winner of Best Director at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, The Handmaiden) returns with a seductive romantic thriller that takes his renowned stylistic flair to dizzying new heights.
Busan Detective Hae-joon (Park Hae-il) is happily married, although work means spending too much time apart from his wife. When a climber’s body is found, suspicious photos on his phone lead to a murder investigation, and Hae-joon to the man’s young wife, Seo-rae (an entrancing Teng Wei) and a stakeout of her home. But even as her alibi clears her, Hae-joon finds himself unable to end his surveillance. Is this his detective’s instinct, or something more? His questioning of Seo-rae at the police station reveals an evident chemistry between them, but it’s unclear whether she is genuine in her behaviour or cleverly manipulating the detective. Director Park has crafted a mystery plotted with virtuoso aplomb – one breathless, twisting story-turn after another. Every shot is marked by its boldness and visual beauty, while the intricacy of the details on display harmonises with the ingeniously crafted plot. And at its centre are the mesmeric performances of Teng Wei and Park Hae-il. Decision to Leave finds director Park working at the dizzying peak of his powers.

 - Tricia Tuttle