In some ways Lee Chang-dong‘s first film in 8 years, Possible Love (original title: Ganeunghan sarang) which is South Korea’s official entry into the International Film Oscar race and premiered in competition at the Venice Film Festival today, might remind you of the class divide in Bong Joon Ho’s Oscar winning Parasite which set the cinematic world on fire in 2019, but now with a pandemic between that release and this one, director Lee’s film carries a poignant subtext, a certain desire for love and longing in a world more split apart than ever, and one which for many seems like it all is out of reach.
The genesis of this film actually started around 2009 when a devastating mass layoff at one of South Korea’s major companies and the cruel suppression of the workers strike there was like an earthquake in the society at the time. The filmmaker though put it on the back burner because the reality of the situation did not feel possible to turn into narrative fiction at the time. The director whose much awarded filmography includes Oasis, Burning, Poetry, and Secret Sunshine, only now after 8 years of no new film was able to find a way in through the art of filmmaking itself as a story device, The changing nature of labor in the country added to his ability to make it not only relevant to his home country, but something that is recognizable around the world.
In Possible Love, a two year workers strike has taken its human toll, notably in the household of Mi-Ok (Jeon Do-Yeon) who is a factory worker who makes masks and whose once proud husband Ho-Seok (Sul Kyung-gu) has been laid off his job, his quiet demeanor now trying to hide his own inner shame, his actions in the strike emotionally crippling. They live with their son, Cheol and try to keep the family upbeat against trying circumstances. Mi-Ok though is still quite spirited and hopeful, protesting the company and longing for better days when their attendance at a funeral leads to meeting a filmmaker, Ye-Ti (Cho Yeo-Jeung) who is doing a documentary on the striking workers and sees Mi-Ok as a promising subject, even moreso when she learns of her husband’s plight and wants to find a way to interview him, even though he adamantly refuses to go on camera.
Possible Love follows this storyline to the point when Ye-Ti, in an effort perhaps to create an environment where Ho-Seok would sit down and talk invites the family to spend time at her house which, class-wise, is much different than the modest lifestyle of Mi-Ok and Ho-Seok. They arrive at the lavishly appointed modern home located in a remote area near the sea where Ye-Ti and her attractive wealthy husband, Sang-woo ( Zo In-sung) live. Though Sang -woo may have business connections not exactly in line with the striking workers concerns he seems very welcoming, and as some time passes Ye-Ti gets Ho-Seok in front of her camera. Meanwhile Mi-Ok increasingly finds herself drawn to Sang-woo, notably an encounter in the ocean that becomes quietly intense. As the lives of these two married couples intersect between affluent and struggling, the human desires and need for love – on many levels – comes to the surface.
As you might expect from this master filmmaker, if you have any experience with his previous films, he takes his time developing the story, and at nearly three hours it takes a little too long here, but once the dichotomy of the situation appears between these two couples, the film comes into focus in a haunting manner, not simply exclusive to life and times in South Korean society, but a situation happening more frequently around the world and in America where the class divide and billionaire indifference to their workers is becoming more pronounced each day.
The cast of top South Korean actors here is well chosen, each of the four main stars given plenty to work with and delivering director Lee’s vision on the screen in this handsomely filmed and pertinent work that even those not familiar with this celebrated filmmaker’s pedigree will find much to admire.
Producers are Pinehouse Film Co., Ltd., Anonymous Content, LLC, NOWFILM Co., Ltd. It will debut on Netflix November 6 preceded by a two week theatrical run stateside.
Title: Possible Love
Festival: Venice – Competition
Distributor: Netflix
Release Date: October 23, 2026 (theatrical); November 6, 2026 (Streaming)
Director: Lee Chang-dong
Screenplay: Lee Chang-dong and Oh Jung-Mi
Cast: Jeon Do-Yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, Cho Yeo-Jeung.
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 Hours and 44 Minutes
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