Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dark Korean crime drama has violence, language, sex.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Decision to Leave
What's the Story?
DECISION TO LEAVE follows the complicated relationship between police officer Jang Hae-joon (Park Hae-il) and murder suspect Song Seo-rae (Tang Wei).
Is It Any Good?
This dark and occasionally dark-humored crime drama scooped the best director prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and it's not difficult to see why. Painstakingly constructed by its director and co-writer Park Chan-wook, Decision to Leave is an unhurried look at the harm done by different types of toxic relationships. The unraveling of workaholic detective Hae-joon is shown in stages, his infatuation with femme-fatale Seo-rae slowly chipping away at both his personal and professional judgment.
Its crawling pace and repressed emotion can be stifling at times, though, and the movie's second half deliberately repeats elements of its first, which makes for a long, winding road along which we confirm our worst fears about everybody involved. But the finale is ruthless in delivering a killer blow. No one here is blameless by the end, but Park's vivid visual compositions and nimble flashbacks make it impossible to look away or predict what's coming next.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Decision to Leave. What was the difference between the violence committed by men and the violence committed by women? How did it make you feel? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
Discuss the relationship between the two leads. How did their affair harm them both and the people around them? Why is loyalty and trust in relationships important? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Talk about Seo-rae's Chinese nationality. How was her life different from the Korean characters' lives?
Talk about some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
Movie Details
- In theaters : October 14, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : February 14, 2023
- Cast : Park Hae-il , Tang Wei , Lee Jung-hyun
- Director : Park Chan-wook
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Director(s) , Korean Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Asian Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : MUBI
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 139 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : March 14, 2023
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