Decision to Leave (Heeojil gyeolsim )

Nothing is like it seems. Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave – awarded, among other things, for direction at the Cannes Film Festival – combines seemingly trivial crime plot with existential melodrama. Seo-rae, a widow, draws the attention of detective Hae-joon after her husband dies under mysterious circumstances. Park mischievously plays with the viewer’s expectations, intentionally conceals key information, layers uncertainties, and cloaks the investigation in a mist of constant doubt. The initial detective investigation forms into a quiet, suffocating melodrama in which it becomes unclear who manipulates who. Thanks to that the film doesn’t only go after the viewer’s relationship to detective stories but can also provoke strong emotions. Decision to Leave is a brilliant example of an ambiguous genre play which instead of delivering answers presents more questions – and in the end lands a surprisingly strong emotional punch. (Dan Krátký)