Not every attraction in life comes without a degree of compromise. Whether that means an element of risk, a taste of something taboo, or a connection with someone outside our comfort zone. That is what Oscar winning writer director Park Chan-wook seeks to explore in Decision to leave. A tantalizing trip into film noir territory, laced with seductive trysts between mysterious femme fatales and their lovelorn patsies.
Following on from the genre defining efforts of Oldboy and The Handmaiden – Park Chan-wook wrestles another cinema staple into submission, with this sultry police procedural. One which finds detective Jang Hae-joon (Park Hae-il) bewitched by the wife of a murder victim, during a police investigation which opens this seductive thriller.
As the beguiling center of his attention throughout, Tang-Wei draws audiences in with her portrayal of widow Song Seo-rae. Coquettish, calculating and not without a modicum of cunning, she all but walks away with the film. Whether flirting during his initial questioning, or sharing carnal intentions through brazen eye contact, there is no denying the power Song Seo-rae possesses.
In many ways Decision to Leave is a departure for Park Chan-wook, as it deals with sexual tension without implementing any graphic diversions. Unlike The Handmaiden, which delved into deviancy and physical dominance for pleasure, this film is much more delicate in depicting its desires.
Decision to Leave uses attraction not for sexual fulfilment, but for the anticipation and foreplay inherent in the act. Making this murderous romance piece an intriguing hybrid from start to finish. Crucial chemistry between Jang and Song is built up through voice messaging which ties into this idea, as murder suspect and investigating officer begin their forbidden tryst.
As pivotal evidence proves evasive in the first hour of screen time, our two principal players begin this ill-advised courtship which is both bewitching and yet destined to end in tragedy. However, with one husband underground and a complicit member of the police under her spell, Song Sae-rae still manages to garner sympathy despite her actions.
That being said, there is much more to recommend this film than some stellar performances from those central players. Audiences will also be swept away by the majestic cinematography of Kim Ji-yong, who creates some awe-inspiring visual imagery to complement a truly compelling murder mystery. Finding serenity in the application of eye drops, or cold clinical detachment from an insect settling on an open eyeball, there is no denying the beauty on screen.
Although Decision to Leave may lose its way somewhere in the middle, which will cause some to switch off momentarily, it delivers more than enough substance in that final act. Aside from the visual audacity which defines much of the cinematic palette on screen, Park-Chan-wook makes sure to give audiences much more than mere distractions on screen.
There are flashes of comedy which punctuate murder scenes, moments on a rock face which air on the side of slapstick, while one particular domestic fixation becomes a left field running joke for the ages. Beyond the longing looks, sexual power plays and devastating central performance from Tang-Wei, this film already feels like a classic in waiting.
With an ending that is certain to leave many speechless, it proves that writer director Park Chan-wook has lost none of his ability to beguile. With infinite layers of intrigue, an effortless grasp of Hitchcockian tropes and a masterful talent for capturing character, Decision to Leave is yet another home run.
One that combines a mesmerizing visual palette with an old school Hollywood structure, which in turn creates something compelling for contemporary audiences. There are very few directors in the industry right now who consistently seek to challenge themselves, or those audiences still prepared to pay good money for a cinema experience.
Park Chang-wook is one of the rare exceptions, who melds artistic endeavor with mainstream tastes. Not only managing to find a middle ground between the two, which appeases and entertains, but who seeks to step outside his comfort zone for more than financial gain. Offering up interpretations that seamlessly combine Korean film influences with Western sensibilities.
Nowhere is that more prevalent than in Decision to Leave, which not only guarantees cinema goers a memorable experience, but will reward those prepared to go back for a second or third time.
Decision to Leave is out in UK cinema now.
