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 Seo-rae (Tang Wei), a Chinese immigrant to South Korea and possible suspect in her husband’s murder. 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 has only become 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 that it’s difficult to keep track of it all. In this regard and the opinion of this reviewer, the film could have benefitted from a slower pace, even more focus on the central relationship and less police procedure.

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 approach to genre. 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.

Decision to Leave can be seen in cinemas from October 20th Australia wide.