A detective falls in love with a mysterious widow as she becomes the prime suspect in his latest murder investigation. This is how the film which was selected by South Korea for the "Best International Film" category at the Oscars can be described in one sentence.

" Decision To Leave " is a film of the neo-noir type ("black cinema" where cynicism prevails) and combines romance and mystery. In April 2022, the film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where Park Chan-wook won the "Best Director" award.

On Rotten Tomatoes , 92% of 105 reviews are positive for the film, with an average rating of 8.1/10. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporte r praises director Park Chan-wook writing, "A world-class artist at the top of his game..." "...all navigating multi-layered plots that continue to deliver surprises until end. It's a luxury to place yourself as a viewer in such capable hands."

Peter Howell of the Toronto Star praised the film, writing, "...every frame is like a painting, with hints of character motivation and plot twists."

Rafael Motamayor of Slash Film rated the film 7/10 and wrote, "This [film] isn't as surprising or innovative as the director's previous work, but it's still a fascinating and well-directed film about desire, regret, and love. "