Lee Chang-Dong’s ‘Possible Love’ Earns 6.5-Minute Standing Ovation At Venice World Premiere
Lee Chang-dong's new film "Possible Love" received a 6½-minute standing ovation following its world premiere at the 83rd Venice Film Festival, marking the acclaimed South Korean director's first feature since 2018's "Burning". The film, co-written by Lee and Oh Jung-mi, follows two married couples whose lives become entangled after a documentary filmmaker forms a close bond with a woman whose husband was laid off from his job. Lee said the story was inspired by mass layoffs at a Korean conglomerate, though he initially shelved the project after questioning whether he had the right to tell a story about labour rights.
The ensemble cast includes Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong, with Jeon and Sul both previous collaborators of Lee's on "Secret Sunshine" and "Peppermint Candy" respectively. The film, financed by Netflix and co-produced by Anonymous Content, Korea's NOWFILM and Pinehouse Film, has already been named Korea's official entry for the Best International Feature Oscar. It is set for an Oscar-qualifying theatrical release in Korea, the US and other territories following its festival run at Venice and Toronto.
In short
- "Possible Love" got a 6.5-minute ovation at its Venice premiere
- Lee Chang-dong's first film since "Burning" in 2018
- Selected as South Korea's official Oscar entry for Best International Feature
Explained simply
Lee Chang-dong is a South Korean film director and screenwriter whose earlier films include Burning, released in 2018. Possible Love is his first feature film since then, and he wrote it with screenwriter Oh Jung-mi.
The story follows two married couples whose lives become connected after a documentary filmmaker grows close to a woman whose husband has lost his job. Lee has said the idea came from mass layoffs at a Korean conglomerate, and that he initially set the project aside while considering whether he should tell a story about workers’ rights.
The film stars Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong. It is backed by Netflix and has been selected as South Korea’s entry for the Best International Feature Oscar, a category for films made outside the United States.