Lee Chang-dong's latest drama "Possible Love" premiered Sunday evening at Venice's Sala Grande cinema, drawing a seven-minute standing ovation from the audience. The cast, including Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong, received tears as the ovation continued until festival staff cut it short to allow time for the next screening.
"Possible Love" is Lee's first feature since "Burning" in 2018. The film reunites the director with collaborators Jeon Do-yeon, who won best actress at Cannes for "Secret Sunshine" in 2007, and Sul Kyung-gu, who starred in Lee's earlier films "Peppermint Candy" and "Oasis." Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong, known for "Parasite," complete the principal cast.
The film follows two married couples from opposite ends of a class divide whose lives become intertwined. Sul Kyung-gu plays Ho-seok, a factory worker traumatized by job loss after a workers' strike, while Jeon Do-yeon is his optimistic wife Mi-ok. A chance encounter brings them to Ye-ji, played by Cho Yeo-jeong, an aspiring documentary filmmaker working on a project about displaced laborers, and her wealthy husband Sang-woo, played by Zo. The group dynamic becomes complicated by class differences and conflicting desires.
Lee co-wrote the film with Oh Jung-mi, who previously collaborated with him on "Burning." Kim Ji-yong served as cinematographer and Jung Jae-il composed the score. Netflix produced and fully financed the film, positioning it as one of its top awards hopefuls for 2026. South Korea selected "Possible Love" as its submission for the best international feature Oscar, the Korean Film Council announced last month. The film is Lee's fourth feature to represent South Korea at the Academy Awards.
"Possible Love" is among 21 titles competing for the Golden Lion at Venice. The festival jury, led by Maggie Gyllenhaal, will announce winners on September 12. Following Venice, the film will continue through festivals in Toronto, New York, San Sebastián, Zurich, Vancouver and Busan. It opens theatrically in South Korea on September 23, Australia on October 22, and in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland and Japan on October 23. Netflix will release the film on its service globally on November 6.
