A Detective’s Obsession: Unraveling the Enigmatic “Decision to Leave”
Park Chan-wook, the visionary director behind the sensual masterpiece “The Handmaiden,” returns after a six-year hiatus with “Decision to Leave.” This film breathes new life into the often-stale genre of police dramas, infusing it with a captivating romanticism and borrowing elements of a dizzying, Hitchcockian thriller. Surprisingly, despite its complex premise, “Decision to Leave” is a remarkably humorous film that effortlessly transcends language barriers with a confident swagger.
The film centers around Detective Hae-joon (played with compelling nuance by Park Hae-il, known for his role in “Memories of Murder”), who finds himself investigating the suspicious death of a prominent man who fell from a mountain peak. The prime suspect is the victim’s enigmatic widow, Seo-rae (portrayed by the captivating Tang Wei). As Hae-joon delves deeper into the case, he develops a dangerous attraction to Seo-rae, a connection that threatens to consume him.
Park Hae-il as Hae-joon in a still from “Decision to Leave”
A Web of Suspicion and Desire
Detective Park exists in a state of waking slumber, haunted by the detailed images of victims from unsolved cases. His wife’s meticulous nature and his colleagues’ unwavering admiration offer no solace. Everything changes when a middle-aged man, a professional climber, plummets to his death from a great height. The man’s equipment bears a mysterious abbreviation, the same letters etched onto the body of his Chinese wife, Seo-rae.
The challenges of translating between Chinese and Korean, the secrets of Seo-rae’s past, and her atypical behavior for a grieving widow all draw Park closer to the suspect. Even as the evidence mounts against her and her alibi crumbles, he finds himself increasingly captivated.
Go Kyung-pyo as Soo-wan in a still from “Decision to Leave”
An Erotic Thriller Deconstructed
The detective’s obsession with Seo-rae intensifies: he buys her premium sushi during mundane interrogations, follows her in his free time, and even helps her care for the elderly at her workplace. He barely has time to analyze the reasons for his attraction, even as his thoughts become consumed by her.
While the premise might suggest a typical 90s erotic thriller, “Decision to Leave” subverts those expectations. The film deliberately avoids overt sexuality and physicality, yet the chemistry between the characters is palpable. The long-awaited kiss between the protagonists occurs only after they confess their feelings, marking the culmination of their journey.
Tang Wei as Seo-rae in a still from “Decision to Leave”
A Masterful Blend of Suspense and Emotion
Park Chan-wook keeps both his characters and the audience in suspense. Some may find the runtime unnecessarily long, while others will become so engrossed in the plot that they won’t want to leave. The film’s inventive editing and Tang Wei’s mesmerizing performance as an unconventional femme fatale lead to a breathtaking finale. The film’s focus isn’t on the identity of the killer, but rather on the complex emotional circumstances that ensnare the characters.
The director also offers an ironic commentary on the pervasive presence of mobile phones, which we often use to replace genuine human connection, ultimately leading to greater alienation. Sometimes, life’s most important confessions remain sealed or erased, yet desire remains an enduring compass. While “Decision to Leave” may not surpass “The Handmaiden” as Chan-wook’s most uninhibited and romantic work, it carves its own path, persistently burrowing under the viewer’s skin, leaving them stunned and willingly immersed in its intricate layers.
“Decision to Leave” won the Best Director award at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.