Decision to Leave
A South Korean Romantic Mystery Thriller Film
Decision to Leave is a 2022 South Korean neo-noir romantic mystery film produced, co-written and directed by Park Chan-wook. It stars Tang Wei and Park Hae-il. The story follows a married detective who, while investigating a man’s death, meets and falls for the man’s now-widowed wife, who is a suspect in her husband’s death.
The film was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where Park Chan-wook won Best Director. Decision to Leave has been praised for its slow-burning suspense, its complex and nuanced characters, and its beautiful cinematography.
Plot
Insomniac detective Jang Hae-jun works in Busan and only sees his wife, Jung-an, a nuclear power plant worker residing in Ipo, once a week. Hae-jun and his partner, Soo-wan, encounter a case where a retired immigration officer, Ki Do-soo, is found dead at the foot of a mountain he often climbed. They interview his much younger wife, Song Seo-rae, an emigrant from China who works as a caretaker for seniors. They suspect her because of her insufficient displays of grief, a scratch on her hand, bruises on her legs and torso, and a tattoo of Ki’s initials in the manner that he also marked his belongings. Hae-jun begins to tail Seo-rae, but he finds himself increasingly drawn to her. They begin a passionate affair, even though Hae-jun knows that she is the prime suspect in her husband’s murder. As Hae-jun gets closer to Seo-rae, he begins to question his own motives and his ability to separate his personal feelings from his professional obligations.
Themes
Decision to Leave explores a number of complex themes, including love, betrayal, obsession, and the nature of truth. The film also raises questions about the ethics of police investigations and the role of personal emotions in the pursuit of justice.
Critical Reception
Decision to Leave has been met with critical acclaim, with praise for its direction, screenplay, performances, cinematography, and score. The film has been described as a \”masterpiece\” and a \”must-see\” for fans of mystery and thriller films.
Perfect Image for the Post
The perfect image for the post would be a still from the film that captures the complex and ambiguous relationship between Hae-jun and Seo-rae. One possibility would be a shot of them standing close together, but with their faces turned away from each other, suggesting both intimacy and distance. Another option would be a shot of them looking at each other with suspicion and longing in their eyes.
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