i wasnt really into the movie and their relationship until the last 20 minutes where everything clicked and suddenly i was crying my heart out. the scene of hae-joon looking for seo-rae in the beach is the most hauting thing i've seen in the year. its also kinda poetic she, literally and figuratively, was at his feet in that exact moment, he just didnt look close enough - and if he did he would've met with a terrible truth just like if they ended up together

The most twisted romance is, you are dying underneath me, and I'm tying my shoes on top of your grave.

[SPOILERS] another point that really stuck with me is that seo-rae is buried in the beach almost perfectly in between the sea in front of her, and the mountains behind her.

The ending reminds me of that part in Wuthering heights that goes "haunt me then". She said she wants to be one of his unsolved cases. This way she will always be with him, in his mind, haunting him. Like you said, their love story cannot really conclude, it just lingers.

The shot at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="427">07:07</a> is truly cinematic poetry because while he's frantically looking for her, she's 10 steps ahead of him and literally has him in the palm of her hand.

I saw this in the cinema. I went alone and I treated myself to a good wine. I really struggled to follow the narrative. It was shot and acted beautifully, but not being sensitive enough to the ethnic/cultural/linguistic differences between South Korea and China meant a lot of the 'lost in translation' moments between the characters, which were important plot devices, completely past me by. The ending was sumptuously apocalyptic and beautiful - immediately after I'd finished it I went looking for a thorough explanation but I couldn't find any. Grateful for the analysis of this metaphor though.

I think the ending shows us that she was also lying, and that she's not a sea person, she's really a mountain person, she's benevolent, that's why she kind of sacrifices herself for their relationship and their love.

I think the mountain of sand at the end more represents their rocky relationship crumbling down into nothingness and vanishing into the sea

Seo Rae is like a sea... She just following the stream of life... She doesn't have control for it, everyone around her is like that stream, her mom (that want to die and back to mountain), her ex-husband (that want to die on mountain), the other man mom (that want to free from pain) & her husband (that want to free from the debt/failure).

Decision to Leave was completely different from some of PCW's past works, especially Oldboy and the Handmaiden, in a sense that the plot is not clear and lucid by any means. This i think is where people's opinion on this film splits. Oldboy and the Handmaiden, however twisted and complicated their plots were, they were all cleared up at the end, leaving no mysteries unsolved. However, the beauty of Decision to Leave lies in the fact that everything is vague, foggy, and left unsolved, because that's exactly how the film says 'the eternal love' is.

One detail I love is how Seo-rae's house literally looks like the sea. Great example at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="371">6:11</a>, where the shot is framed as if she's holding Hae-jun underwater.

Incredible analysis and came at the perfect time literally just finished watching Decision to Leave on MUBI. One of the best films of the year!

This movie could have gone horribly wrong with the same script but different director... It's the genius of Park Chan-wook that makes the difference... He knows what he wants, how he wants... Also brilliant cinematography and editing !

I will never forget that mirror scene, best cinematography I've seen in ages and my god that will forever be imprinted in my mind.

I felt crushed as the movie was ending. I was hoping for Seo Rae to be in the camera pan just behind Hae Jun and either shouting for his attention or waiting in silence for him to look at her after realizing, maybe again, his love for her. For them to be together in an embrace as the sea of benevolence and love enraptured them. For them to have the love, all-consuming and all-fulfilling, breaking all barriers of sobriety. But as the waves kept crawling up and the hope was all but fading away, all I wanted to do was run away & give up watching whatever was left of the movie. I was so angry at Park Chan-wook for ending the movie this way. Why couldn't they be together? All of the world can go screw itself, love doesn't care for anything other than the lovers. But what about the lovers themselves, what if they care? What if they have contrasting love, an upsetting ambivalence? Hae Jun knew Seo Rae had killed her husband, which shattered him. He was on the side of the law. He was devoted to his duties, a prime example of what an upright/truthful person is like. Still, once in love, he had given leeway for a categorical imperative of justice to make room for Seo Rae’s compulsive action, thus shattering him in the process. "Could he live with a murderer?" "Could she live without him anymore?" Seo Rae knew this too; for she was a dignified modern person too. But the dualities of such magnitude, which were colliding, left Seo Rae no choice, and as she loved him, she wanted him to love her too, forever (as long as forever really is). Only after I put myself in their shoes and thought about their actions could I realize the depth of Park Chan-wook's romantic vision and his profound understanding of the reality of existence & life. The dualities are all around us, at every moment, and we're struggling to overcome the dichotomies; the dichotomy of life & death, of pleasure & restraint, of freedom & bondage, of action & inaction, of delusion & knowledge, of fulfilment & loss. We struggle, and that struggle enriches our life. The depths of devastation pave the way for the fruition of blissful peace. To be able to go through the pain of Hae Jun would not be glorious. It’d be one of the most difficult lived experiences ever, yet there is the hope of such peace someday, for Seo Rae has helped him pave the fields of his heart. An ultimate sacrifice in love. Love, which strengthens with time, is peaceful and blissful in an absolute sense.

The chemistry between the actors was beautiful, I loved the script too. Actually, I loved everything.

It's very funny to hear someone refer to mountains and the sea as the opposites, because where I come from it was always exactly that. Here if you would choose a place for vacations it would usually be either the sea on the far north of the country or mountains on the far south, and there would always be wars about which one you like better, are you the sea or the mountain person? It was also usually that the choice did in fact say something about person's personality, sea people would be the more chilled ones, prefering to lay down all day and observe the city, while mountain ones were the ones who prefered to relax by walking all day long and being far from civilization. It was always a difficult decision for me as a child to answer if I'm a sea or a mountain, and usually I would try to avoid answering. Today I know that this is because I'm more of a forrest and lake kind of person, since I am from the region in the middle of the country where there's a lot of those. The sea is too big and scary and untouchable, and the mountains are too steep and harsh, I prefer hiding beneath the lake water's surface and look for trees for comfort of a shade.

holy crap man you made me love this film even more than i already did

this made me appreciate the film way more than before. thank you

I loved this movie and it kept growing on me after seeing it in the theater. Definitely going to watch it again, since it feels like I missed a lot of stuff. This video made me love it even more

OST of this movie, an emmotional oldies "Fog / Mist", due to the meeting of Mountain and Sea.

This is such a good analysis. Absolutely LOVED this movie. It’s so refreshing as an audience member to be challenged emotionally and mentally rather than just be entertained. (Also, thanks for the MUBI sponsorship. Wouldn’t have found it any other way :))

So glad I saw this one in theaters! One of this years best.

She buried herself with the same bucket she buried the raven. Just like the raven was the cat's gift to her, her sacrifice was a gift to him.

It’s honestly one of my favorites this year, from the moment it started in the theater, I was hooked.

decision to leave is the most heartbreakingly romantic film ive ever seen in a very, very long while. will never get tired of park chan wook's distinct style of editing. he's completely mastered the art of attention; he's always in full control. the energy between the two leads was seductive, electrifying, *mist*ifying, and they didnt even need to have sex. romantic and sexual tension is all about the things that have NOTHING to do with sex. it's about what you guys do outside the bedroom. i deadass started laughing my ass off when you described their whole suspect-police fantasy as "hot" because it really is 🤣 nothing more spicy than a little voyeur kink, jk. but on a serious note, it's that chase that which lies their dynamic. like you said, without the turbulent sea-like qualities in their relationship, they would probably be less toxic but the energy would simply diffuse into nothingness. they so desperately wanted for the chase to never end; the longing to never cease. that was the only way to keep and justify their heart-shattering love.

It has become one of my most favourite movies. While watching this movie, I witnessed a collage of brilliance and innovation.

I think the reason why she buried herself but not throw herself in the sea is because Hae-joon hang the pictures of all his unsolved cases. That way he will have to love her forever.

A lot of this went right over my head watching, so thank you for making this! Makes it shoot right up to the top as one of my favorites of the year!

Wonderful video, really well told! Thoroughly enjoyed my first viewing but this inspired me to give it a second watch. Thanks Karsten!

I JUST WATCHED THIs 15MINS AGO AND I STILL HAVEN'T MOVED ON FROM THE ENDING SCENE, IM LITERALLY CRYING RIGHT NOW IT"S A GREAT POETIC FILM. JFC Park Chan wook gave me did me a dirty this on one, I was expecting the usual same tropes he does on his past films which I watched. But this one, that ending crushed me, I'm still probably going to think about that last scene in the upcoming weeks. What a beautiful tragedy, PCW made another masterpiece on it's own but this time a bit different from the usuals.

Glad someone mainstream is making a video about this. Best film of the year

I love this analysis and the sand pile theory really does make sense. Perhaps that explains the narratively cumbersome move to the seaside city in the entire second half. This symbolism and the elements you focus on here are my favorite things, but that being said, I was distracted by the too much-ness of the movie. Love story? With social commentary? With police procedural? With comic relief? With multiple (un)related criminal story lines? With a ton of commercial endorsements in our face, too?

It felt like I'm reading a poem and watching a beautiful painting at the same time❤️

This review trumps everything else I have read and is a wonderful companion to the film. Thought I already caught every detail but this review articulates it so well and really drives the point home.

I have to admit I was a little confused the first time watching it. I kept my focus on solving the murders and not their tragic love story. What a fucking masterpiece.

One of your best analyses, Karsten, great work!

Really great and insightful analysis: the mountain and sea thing was something I didn't get into... would have needed a 3rd or 4th viewing to unpack that one. I loved this film on first viewing, and some of the symbols only started making sense a few days later. The portrayal of a man falling into love exceeded things like Vertigo, for me, the scenes drawing from In the Mood for Love, Paris Texas, Gone Girl. In short, tragic seduction (not detective drama) is the true genre of this film. I do sense that it would have benefitted from a few extra scenes, to slow down its speed, and have it hit harder - particularly the second half. Since Seo-Rae was an object of suspicion throughout so much of the film, a little bit extra characterisation to show some aspect of goodness in her would have been helpful, to make her seem more complex, her love that little bit more tantalisingly possible and sincere, and her death at the end of more tragic. At the same time, I DID totally fall in love with her...... and suspicion is one of the big reasons some men never truly get to bask in a woman's heart.

This is my favourite film of the year. Thank you for this nice analysis. I hope more people watch it and appreciate it.

Thanks for this summary. Really appreciated!

The connection Decision to Leave has to Vertigo is a big part of the film. It even directly uses Bernard Hermann's score from Vertigo multiple times.

I have seen many movie explaining videos from many channel, but dude you're too good. 🖤

This was the best film of the year for me. Love me an imposible romance

Your analysis is poignant and absolutely wonderful, thank you Karsten

This was my first time in an honest to god indie theater, I made my dad drive all the way to Chicago to see it. I haven’t cried this much at the end movie since mama mia: here we go again.

Glad to see this movie getting some love, saw it back in the summer and knew it was gonna hit

idk why but the moment you compare rock and sea is giving me goosebumps, how did i miss that

thank you for such explanation. from the moment I started the movie, I just watched without breathing, the cuts used by director pleased me soooo much, ending crushed me, I even pause before the last 15 minutes, just to try to predict what could happen. I'd like to rewatch it even more after your video essay.

Decision to leave struggled with the romance between the two main characters and that made it hard for me to truly love it

Excellent analysis, great insights.

Excellent analysis. Brings another perspective to this great movie.

To further support your main point - at the end of the film, the director frames Jang ascending the cliffs, while you can see the area where Song drowns herself in the background. Further indicating the tragic incompatibility these two have, their lives ultimately going in opposite directions. Another point of their incompatibility being the mountain being considered 'oil' versus the 'water' of the ocean - which, of course, do not mix. Watched this movie on your recommendation so thank you for this and keep up the great work!

I saw it at Fantastic Fest, and it is definitely in my top 3 of the year. Alongside The Fabelmans and Everything Everywhere

deayum, you're great at understanding imagery... loved your commentary.

One of favorites of the year for sure. Tang Wei was incredible

I'm a simple man: I see a video praising Decision to Leave, I click like

A lot of things were lost in translation and I'm happy that I stumbled upon this video so I could better understand the film. Thank u

I was OBSESSED with the cinematography and editing when I watched this last night, so different to anything I have ever seen and makes this crime drama/mystery refreshing and new

I honestly do not know why I haven't been subscribed to this channel... It is really wonderful

Great commentary thanks

Magnificent analysis.

damn.,nice analysis.. never thought about the sand as a mountain being destroyed by the waves from the sea could be so meaningful..wow

i love PCW's filmography (stoker, oldboy and thirst are my faves) but i just couldn't get into decision to leave. this vid made me appreciate it a bit more tho

I think this film is incredibly personal for Park Chan Wook.

Man. This explanation made me love the film even more.

Was waiting for this video!

Was hoping you'd make a video about this one! n the scene where she puts him to bed, when she turns the lamp off he is lit in a kind of teal, not unlike the fentanyl, dress, or sea

I watched an almost hour-long analysis video of this movie made by a highly esteemed movie critic… and I have to say, I prefer and appreciate this video over that one. Don’t get me wrong; I’m a pretty simple person and I probably would’ve missed a lot had it not been for that hour-long video. But this review, man, it really opened my eyes to view the main characters’ love from a different perspective. Thank you for this gem of a video!

i think me finding this youtube video channeled me to try something new, so i thank you

Thank you for the analysis :) I felt the movie was beautiful with some of its images leaving a strong impression, but your insight and opinion opens a new dimension for my imagination.

Beach scene was good. As was when he realized she switched the ‘grandma’s’ phone.

Loved the movie & love this analysis. Would be great to see you do a park-chan wook ranking in the future

more than an everlasting love, i think a haunting love is probably a better word. the scene where she builds her own mountain that gets destroyed by the sea as she gets ready to welcome death to me is a direct portrayal of the police officer's life (mountain) that collapses (as he himself says in the indirect love confession scene) after she (the sea) comes into his life. a whirlpool is created, the water churns as she sinks but not without also taking him down with her; for she will end up being his open case and in the alternate ending that they do discover her body, right under where his feet stood and searched (dirt under the first husband's fingernails with her dna in one of the first scenes to dirt under the officer's shoes where she went to lie forever), its something that will haunt him regardless, keeping him from sleep, eyes wide awake. she, who used to be the one to help him sleep ends up having the last motive of taking his sleep away ++ must i also add, when he's near the sea, listening to the last of his recorded voice asking her to throw the phone into the deep sea,, there's an almost pained smile? on his face as he understands this is her confessing her love back,, saying i love you by coming back to the sea and throwing herself into it. obeying a lover before he ties his shoelaces to go search frantically. i really like that frame

love the overhead shot of the beach where you can see a side profile of a face (presumably Seo-rae's) in the waves

One of ur best videos, Karsten!

i think this review video has unlock one of the main key symbols in the movie, but if you already in the realm of Park Chan Wook, then we should realize that he has scatters a lot more symbolism in order to unlock way more contexts. One of the symbolism that's interesting for me is how Park is playing the shadow and light. How shadow and light is representing the mysteriousness, and how light is showing us the truth, the path of the narratives. One of the example is on the last scene where Joon is scattering the ashes on the mountain, Seo-Rae is using the headlight where she is showing the way for Joon, but at the same time Seo stays behind the light, a depiction of mysterious being for Joon to uncover.

Omg one my favorite movies of all time ❤ and for me is the best of this year!!

Love has no boundaries, their love began just like the sea.

This movie had me so torn. On one hand is like I wish there was a way they could be together because he truly was not happy without her but man if this isn't a toxic relationship idk what Is. I felt bad for the main guy because he truly will likely never find happiness again

For the first 30 mins I was struggling to follow the narrative. But then once I catch on to the style and the way the story is being told, I was totally hooked. I definitely need to watch it again a few more time, cuz I'm sure I've missed a lot of the little details. Your interpretation is wonderful! Would love to hear your take on Song Lang, a Vietnamese film that I just watched recently. Stunning film. Quite a unique take on queer love that takes place in Saigon in the 80s.

Beautiful ❤

I have a critique. I felt like this story is created for that ending shot alone like, "hmmm what could be a good story for that shot" Instead of the plot actually warranting that shot. I don't know if I'm making sense but yeah. This movie could've been a masterpiece if only it took it's time to show or tell us WHY exactly did the ML fell in love with the FL. Because I totally get how she could've fall in love with him (it was clear it started when she followed him while she's driving the car, and got to know how much he's such a responsible and kind person). BUT him... did he fall in love with her because she's pretty? Because she's unpredictable? Because she's just like him? HOW exactly? When did it start? When she decided to pick to see the picture instead of words? With that alone? I know they felt inclined to each other because both of them felt like they were just like the sea but yeah, I understand why some people felt it was contrived. Unlike the director's other works, this movie lacks plot building. It never indulged deeply to the FL as a character more and her background..... and when it finally feels like it did, it still felt lacking.

'Decision To Leave' just makes 2023 Oscars shortlist for international feature film (23 Dec 2022)

this movie was so worth the wait

Bro should have followed her footprint, its an empty beach, her prints should still be there. Its not windy and he arrived a few minutes later. So much for being a good detective. 😮‍💨

this is almost perfect analysis..

Someone pointed out on Reddit that in the drone shot of the two cars and the sea in the end, that the sea outlines a female face

The Golden Age of Koreaqn Cinema

This movie... I will never forget

This was really good. Need to find this movie.

😭😭😭😭 masterpiece

time to go watch this masterpiece again. .

This movie was so pleasing to watch I love the cinematography 10/10

I couldn’t feel anything, completely blunt,. It didn’t touch nor did it move me in anyway. The cultural barrier is way too big for me I guess

brilliant film. well done.

ike you analysis. At <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="390">6:30</a> maybe that's what you already implied, we see him on the brown side of the background (the door), but when he says "i'm shattered" the camera moves so that it puts him between the brown door and the blue wallpaper, now stuck between the mountain and the sea. Notabely too, that scene happens exactly at the middle of the movie.

Watched this one with your Mubi free trial, thanks a bunch!

I saw this movie because RM of BTS is absolutely obsessed with it and because The Handmaiden was so mesmerising but for the most part I was confused and a bit disinterested. That was up until the last third of the movie when everything started to gear up for a devastating ending (and what an ending it was!). I kind of wish there were more ‘lost in translation’ moments because I loved how the language barrier was explored. Overall I might have to give this one another watch because I feel like I’ve missed out on something.

loved it.

Top 3 film for me this year!