If you’re tuning in to CinemaCon news, you’re hearing studios say theatrical distribution is the “cornerstone” of their business, an about face to all the conventional wisdom in the last few years that says streaming is the industry’s future. Such are the whims of saying whatever’s convenient at the moment, but in a sure sign that streaming is still as important as ever, MUBI, the global arthouse streamer, has announced a huge acquisition today in Park Chan-Wook’s much-anticipated thriller “Decision To Leave,” which is making its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month. It’s a massive get for the streamer as the director’s film is one of the premiere films playing at the Croisette.
READ MORE: David Cronenberg, James Gray & Park Chan-wook Top Cannes Film Festival 2022 Slate
According to Deadline, it’s MUBI’s biggest deal to date, and they have bought rights to the film in North America, the U.K., India, and Turkey. MUBI is already eyeing a fall 2022 release in the U.S. and the U.K. which likely means the company will also be looking to mount an Oscar campaign in the Best International Feature category.
Starring Tang Wei (“Lust, Caution“) and Park Hae-il (“War of The Arrows“) the Korean-language mystery crime-drama “Decision To Leave” charts the aftermath of a man falling from a mountain peak to his death. The detective in charge of the investigation comes to meet the dead man’s wife. When she becomes a suspect, the detective finds himself slowly developing an interest in her.
Having had international breakout success before most of his contemporaries, Park Chan-Wook is arguably the filmmaker that started the South Korean movement—or at least that brought the disparate scene to international acclaim—that includes directors like Bong Joon-Ho, Kim Jee-Woon, Hong Sang-Soo, and Lee Chang-dong.
Park Chan-Wook is known for “Joint Security Area” (2000), “Thirst” (2009), the Cannes competition title “The Handmaiden” (2016), and what has become known as The Vengeance Trilogy, consisting of “Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance” (2002), “Oldboy” (2003) and “Lady Vengeance” (2005).