‘Possible Love’ Marks Lee Chang-dong’s First Award Bid in 24 Years, and Korea’s in 14 Years... Venice Festival Finale One Day Away

[Financial News] Attention is focused on whether director Lee Chang-dong will win an award in the main competition at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, which closes on Sept. 12 local time. It would be the first such honor since the late director Kim Ki-duk’s ‘Pietà’ won the Golden Lion in 2012.
It has been 24 years since Lee Chang-dong last entered the competition at the Venice International Film Festival with ‘Oasis’ in 2002. At the time, ‘Oasis’ won awards for Best Director, Best New Actress for Moon So-ri, and the International Federation of Film Critics award.
Expectations for the Netflix film ‘Possible Love’ have grown after leading international media outlets praised it following its local premiere. Die Welt also named it a strong contender for the Golden Lion. A total of 21 films are competing for the top prize at this year’s Venice International Film Festival.

In an article published on Sept. 10 titled ‘The Leading Contenders at the Venice Film Festival,’ German daily Die Welt selected ‘Possible Love’ as one of the five leading films competing for this year’s Golden Lion.
‘Possible Love’ follows Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu), a laid-off worker, and his wife Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon), who encounter Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong), a documentary filmmaker seeking to capture their lives on camera, and her wealthy husband Sang-woo (Zo In-sung). Together, they confront different realities and hidden desires.
Alongside ‘Possible Love,’ Die Welt selected four other films: director Martin McDonagh’s ‘Wild Horse Nine,’ Florian Zeller’s ‘Bunker,’ Hirokazu Kore-eda’s ‘Look Back,’ and Mai El-Toukhy’s ‘Kvinde Uden.’
The publication described ‘Possible Love’ as “a film about love and friendship that also addresses class conflict in today’s society,” adding that “through a delicate, slow-paced narrative, Lee Chang-dong has created an exceptional psychological depth.”

‘Possible Love’ was unveiled on Sept. 6 local time at the Sala Grande, the Venice International Film Festival’s main screening venue. According to Netflix, the audience gave the film a standing ovation lasting about seven minutes after the end credits rolled.
International media outlets also showered the film with praise immediately after the screening. Deadline called it “the film that has received the closest thing to unanimous acclaim at this festival so far.”
The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, saying, “Lee Chang-dong’s gaze as an observer of humanity remains at its peak, and his insight into emotional life and social conditions is unparalleled.” It also described the film as “a profound reflection on trauma and the loss of dignity, longing and class envy,” as well as “a sad but beautiful chamber drama” and “a quiet masterpiece.”
Variety called it “a beautifully mature and quietly grand relationship drama,” praising its “wit, soul and social insight” and saying that Jeon Do-yeon “gives a dazzling performance.” It particularly noted that Lee Chang-dong had combined different themes and emotions—including classism, labor exploitation, love and desire—without making the result feel forced.
The Guardian gave the film four out of five stars, calling it “a work distinguished by carefully calibrated direction, beautiful performances and a novelistic texture.” It added, however, that some scenes were “somewhat contrived and self-conscious.”
Amid the praise for the cast’s performances, special attention has been drawn to Jeon Do-yeon. IndieWire lauded her, saying, “Less than 20 years after first working with Lee Chang-dong, Jeon Do-yeon once again delivers a performance that comes along perhaps once in a century.” Jeon previously won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for the director’s earlier film ‘Miryang.’
Meanwhile, ‘Possible Love’ will open in select South Korean theaters on Sept. 23 and be released worldwide on Netflix on Nov. 6.
[email protected] Shin Jin-a Reporter