Director Park Chan-wook’s highly anticipated new film, “It Can’t Be Helped,” is set to hit cinemas on 24th September. The film, which has already been selected for the competition section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival and will open the 30th Busan International Film Festival, has released its main trailer and a new illustrated poster, offering a deeper look into its darkly comedic world.
A Desperate Fight for Re-employment
“It Can’t Be Helped” tells the story of Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), a successful office worker who believes he has achieved everything he could want in life. His world is turned upside down when he is suddenly made redundant. The plot follows his increasingly desperate “personal war” to find a new job, not only to provide for his wife and two children but also to save the home they have worked so hard to acquire.
The newly released trailer opens with an anxious Man-su at a job interview, immediately setting a tense atmosphere. This tension is laced with irony when detectives, investigating the disappearance of two other candidates from the same interview, question him. Man-su’s dry response, “I’ll be sure to contact you as soon as I disappear,” hints at the film’s unique blend of suspense and black comedy. As Man-su’s family, led by his pragmatic wife Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin), rallies to face the crisis, the true battle begins. The tagline, “Four people, one spot,” appears on screen as Man-su’s rivals are introduced: Beom-mo (Lee Sung-min), Si-jo (Cha Seung-won), and the highly-regarded Seon-chul (Park Hee-soon), dramatically raising the stakes.
Director’s Vision and Casting Insights
In a behind-the-scenes video, Director Park Chan-wook described the film’s core concept. “It’s a film about watching a man, who was living a good life, get fired and then observing how he is gradually dragged into a darker place in his struggle to return to his former life,” he explained.
Park praised his cast for their commitment and skill. Of Lee Byung-hun, he remarked, “I was amazed by his incredible range of expressions and his ability to switch between them so effortlessly.” He described Son Ye-jin as “a true professional.” The director also shared his vision for the supporting characters, noting he wanted Park Hee-soon to portray a “volatile character with big mood swings,” while Lee Sung-min was encouraged to deliver an “uninhibited, exaggerated performance.” He added that casting Cha Seung-won, an actor with a powerful presence, in a more subservient role was an intentional choice to create an interesting dynamic.
The Funnier, The Better
Perhaps the most revealing insight into the film’s tone came from an anecdote shared by the director. “After reading the script, the first question Lee Byung-hun asked me was, ‘Is it okay for this to be funny?’ My answer was, ‘The funnier, the better.'” This exchange confirms that audiences can expect the gripping drama of one man’s fight for survival to be punctuated by moments of sharp, ironic humour.
With its stellar cast, masterful direction, and a compelling mix of drama and dark comedy, “It Can’t Be Helped” is poised to be a major cinematic event this autumn.
