“Possible Love” Garners Prolonged Applause at Venice Film Festival
Lee Chang-dong, a distinguished Korean filmmaker, made a resounding return with his latest film Possible Love, which premiered at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. The movie, marking his first since the critically acclaimed Burning in 2018, was met with a standing ovation lasting over six minutes on Sunday evening.
The applause, while hearty, was interrupted by festival staff who needed to clear the Sala Grande venue for the upcoming premiere. The film’s stars, including Sul Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-Yeon, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong, were visibly moved during the ovation, with some actors seen shedding tears of emotion.
Directed by Lee, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Oh Jung-mi (his collaborator on Burning), the narrative of Possible Love explores the interconnected lives of two married couples. The film features Mi-ok (played by Jeon Do-Yeon), who leads a subdued existence with her husband Ho-Seok (Sul Kyung-gu) and their young son, Cheol.
Ho-Seok’s character faces challenges after being laid off from his job due to an unspecified incident that deeply affects his family life and communication. The plot thickens when the family encounters Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong), a documentary filmmaker working on a project about unemployed workers, and her affluent husband, Sang-woo (Zo In-sung). As Mi-ok agrees to participate in the documentary, her growing bond with Ye-ji brings to light unsettling tensions that threaten the stability of both their households.
Insight from Director Lee Chang-dong
In a conversation with Deadline before attending the Venice Film Festival, Director Lee revealed that the inspiration for Possible Love came from witnessing mass layoffs at a major Korean conglomerate. “It seemed like a pivotal moment for the Korean labor market,” he commented, acknowledging the transformative impact such corporate restructuring could have on employees.
Despite the compelling nature of the story, Lee initially hesitated to proceed with the project, questioning whether he was the right person to tackle the sensitive topic of labor rights, especially since documentaries had already covered the issue. “Am I justified in dramatizing this reality?” he pondered, leading him to temporarily shelf the project.
The Korean Film Council has chosen Possible Love as the country’s official entry for the Best International Feature category at the Oscars. Netflix, which financed the film and holds its international distribution rights, has confirmed that the film will have an Oscar-qualifying theatrical run in Korea, the U.S., and other selected markets following its appearances at the Venice and Toronto film festivals.
Produced by a collaboration between Anonymous Content, Korea’s NOWFILM, and Pinehouse Film, Possible Love boasts an impressive cast. The ensemble includes actors such as Jeon Do-yeon, previously seen in Lee’s Secret Sunshine, and Sul Kyung-gu, a star in Lee’s earlier work Peppermint Candy, along with Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong.
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