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Decision to Leave

Decision to Leave is a 2022 South Korean neo-noir romantic mystery film directed, co-written, and produced by Park Chan-wook.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Decision to Leave is a 2022 South Korean neo-noir romantic mystery film directed, co-written, and produced by Park Chan-wook. The film follows a detective who becomes obsessively involved with the widow of a man whose death he is investigating. It stars Tang Wei and Park Hae-il in the lead roles.

Plot

Detective Jang Hae-jun investigates the death of a mountain climber. His suspicion falls on the dead man’s widow, Seo-rae, and the investigation gradually turns into a romantic obsession.

Production

Decision to Leave was produced in South Korea by Moho Film and CJ ENM. Park Chan-wook is credited as the director, co-writer, and producer, with Jeong Seo-kyeong co-writing the screenplay.

Release and reception

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022, where Park Chan-wook won Best Director. It received strong critical attention for its style, mystery structure, and romantic elements. In Canada, the film was reviewed and distributed through international festival and streaming circuits, and has been discussed by Canadian audiences as part of global prestige cinema.

Themes

The film is described as a neo-noir and romantic thriller that blends police procedural elements with themes of desire, surveillance, obsession, and unresolved love.

Key facts

  • Decision to Leave is a 2022 South Korean neo-noir romantic mystery film.
  • The film was directed, co-written, and produced by Park Chan-wook.
  • It stars Tang Wei and Park Hae-il in the lead roles.
  • The story follows a detective who becomes romantically obsessed with a murder suspect.
  • Park Chan-wook won Best Director at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for the film.
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Canadian context

The film was reviewed and distributed in Canada through international festival and streaming circuits, and it has been discussed by Canadian audiences as part of global prestige cinema.

Frequently asked questions

What is Decision to Leave about?
It follows a detective investigating a man’s death who becomes emotionally involved with the victim’s widow, who is also a suspect.
Who directed Decision to Leave?
Park Chan-wook directed the film and also co-wrote and produced it.
Who stars in Decision to Leave?
The lead roles are played by Tang Wei and Park Hae-il, with Lee Jung-hyun and Go Kyung-pyo also among the principal cast.
What genre is Decision to Leave?
It is generally classified as a neo-noir romantic mystery or romantic thriller.
When was Decision to Leave released?
It was released in 2022; sources also note a Cannes premiere and a later theatrical release that year.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_to_Leave
    Supports: Basic plot, title, director, cast, language, country, and genre.
  2. BBC Culture — https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20220523-decision-to-leave-a-cracking-romantic-thriller
    Supports: Genre, runtime, Cannes premiere context, and production details.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/decision_to_leave
    Supports: Director, screenwriters, genre, language, runtime, and theatrical release information.
  4. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_to_Leave
    Supports: Lead cast and film identification as a South Korean romantic mystery film.
  5. Google Play Movies — https://play.google.com/store/movies/details/Decision_to_Leave?id=JQUzfvNMgyI.P&hl=en
    Supports: Plot synopsis and Cannes Best Director mention.
  6. TIME — https://www.time.com/6221814/decision-to-leave-review/
    Supports: Neo-noir romantic framing and thematic description.