Premiered in Competition at Cannes on May 23, Favorable Reviews Continue from Foreign Media

On May 23, when Decision to Leave was unveiled, directed by Park Chanwook, who heralded ‘a love story for grown-ups,’ the night of the 75th Festival de Cannes Film was heated with Korean films once again. Starring Actors Park Haeil and Tang Wei, who represent Korea and China, Decision to Leave is also Director Park Chanwook’s 4th entry into the Competition at the Festival de Cannes. 

Until just before the showcase of Decision to Leave through the World Premier, many people around the GRAND THEATRE LUMIERE were trying to get tickets. Some Cinephiles were even holding paper just written ‘Park Chanwook’ without any further explanation asking for tickets. When Director Park Chanwook and Actor Park Haeil in handsome tuxedoes and Tang Wei dressed in an elegant white dress entered the GRAND THEATER LUMIERE after passing on the red carpet, about 3,000 audiences in the theater greeted them with thunderous applause and cheers. Especially, the nominees for the Caméra d’Or, including Actor Lee Jungjae, who debuted as a director with HUNT, which was invited to Cannes’ Midnight Screenings, attended the official screening of Decision to Leave, making the premiere more meaningful. 

Decision to Leave depicts deep emotions that begin when Detective Haejun (Park Haeil) meets Seorae (Tang Wei), a suspect in a murder case, and feels suspicion and interest in her at the same time. The interrogation between the detective and the suspect gradually turns into a ‘conversation,’ and the relationship between the detective and the suspect moves toward a new phase. In the process of gradually changing the relationship between the two, a detailed crime-action drama combines with a melodrama, resulting in a totally unique love story we have never seen before. On top of that, sensuous mise-en-scéne and music infuse deeper emotions into Park Chanwook’s ‘classic melodrama.’ After the official preview, Director Park humbly said, “Thank you so much for welcoming the long and boring old-fashioned movie,” expressing his gratitude to the audience, who gave a standing ovation for a long time. 

After the premier, foreign media responded positively. Screen Daily, the official newsletter of the Festival de Cannes, gave 3.2 points to Decision to Leave, recording the first 3-point range. The film also received the highest scores among the films, which were invited to the Competition at the 75th Festival de Cannes and released until May 25 (local time in France). The Guardian, a British daily newspaper, also praised the tension and emotional confrontation of the film, giving it a perfect score of 5 stars. The response is hot not only among movie critics but also in the market. An official from CJ ENM, who participated in the Marche du Film, said, “Decision to Leave has completed the pre-sale to 192 countries.” The film will be released simultaneously in France and Korea on June 29.