Make a decision to watch ‘Decision to Leave’

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What would you do for love? Would you sell everything you have? Would you steal for it? How about taking another person’s life?

These decisions are what plagues the mind of Seo-rae, played by Chinese actress Tang Wei, as the focus of the movie “Decision to Leave.” But she isn’t the main character. The main protagonist is detective Jang Hae-joon (Park Hea-il), a married man who investigates the killing of Seo-rae’s husband.

His death looks like a common climbing accident, but a little too curated for Jang. The investigation leaves him infatuated with Seo-rae and uses stakeouts as an excuse to see her. As she caught wind of his actions, she began to toy with his, and mystery.

South Korean director Park Chan-wook is known for his puzzle piece movies and thought-provoking plots. His most noted projects, “Oldboy” and “The Handmaiden,” gave us a glimpse of mental boundaries he is willing to push. Unlike his other works, he has co-written, directed and co-produced this film, and has won Best Director at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, an award best suited for his work in this movie.

Ingesting this movie requires your full attention, every minute counts and cannot be ignored. Each interaction between all characters, big or small, adds to the bigger picture. I had to watch the movie twice in order fully consume what I was viewing.

I do, however, believe it is worth it because you end up seeing perspectives that you didn’t see beforehand. The mystery behind what is to become of the two characters is something you must see for yourself, and it is a film I wouldn’t mind watching for a third time.

Grade: A-