MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY FILM INQUIRER

Decision to Leave is an enigmatic film, to say the least. Equal parts familiar and unique, it left me with a feeling that it will benefit from repeated viewings. Seemingly, it’s a fast-paced police procedural. However, its real focus is the tender romance between Hae-Joon (Park Hae-il), a seasoned detective struggling to sleep, and a Chinese immigrant to South Korea and possible suspect in her husband’s murder, Seo-rae (Tang Wei). This romantic element is the strongest part of the film, especially because both Wei (who starred in Ang Lee’s magnificent 2007 film Lust, Caution) and director Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden 2016, Oldboy 2003) are no strangers to deceptive or otherwise psychologically tense romance films, wherein characters are both attracted and trying to manipulate one another.

Chan-wook is wearing his influences on his sleeve with Decision to Leave. One could argue that the premise is reminiscent of a Hitchcock or De Palma film, or 1992’s Basic Instinct. Yet, where those films take a more obvious approach to romance, Chan-wook’s is more subtle and tender. The romance is understated, prioritising the sensual over the sexual. The sheer fact that we feel the impact of every glance, every touch over the course of this two and a half hour narrative showing how well he knows his craft.

Unfortunately, the film also suffers from a case of whiplash. The premise of a detective falling for a suspect is a familiar one. Although one could argue it’s only familiar because it’s so compelling. So, the premise is strong, but at times, due to the fast pace of the film, it feels like the audience is being assaulted with information. There’s a lot to take in and there are so many cases happening at the same time that it’s difficult to keep track of it all. In this regard, Decision to Leave could have benefitted from more focus and less police procedure.  It also seems to me that Chan-wook is more interested in the romance than this police procedure, which may be why the former is so much more compelling.

Perhaps it’s bias on my part since the only other South Korean police procedural I’ve seen is Bong Joon-ho’s Memories of Murder (2003) and I found that film had the same issues in terms of pacing and genre approach. The humour in Decison to Leave, however, unlike Memories of Murder, is natural and works very well, possibly the difference between Joon-ho and Chan-wook’s styles.

Ultimately, Decision to Leave is a compelling watch, but it also left me wanting. There are certainly things to love about it when it’s not being bogged down by the police procedural plot. Nonetheless, it is the opinion of this reviewer that the film could have benefitted from a slower pace and even more focus on the central relationship.

Decision to Leave can currently be found at the Melbourne International Film Festival (running from August 4th until the 21st in cinemas), with the final round of tickets for any sessions on standby to be released at 5:00 pm the day before each session. A wide theatrical release will follow later in the year. Interested in writing a review of anything? Just send us an email.