Can 'Possible Love' win Lee Chang-dong top prize at Venice film festival?

Lee Chang-dong's film Possible Love received an enthusiastic seven-minute standing ovation at the Venice International Film Festival on Sunday, signaling a strong comeback for the director. Early reviews have been highly positive, praising the film's exploration of themes such as trauma, loss of dignity, yearning, and class envy.

The Hollywood Reporter described it as a profound meditation on these subjects, calling it a sad but beautiful chamber piece brought to life by a superb ensemble cast. The International Cinephile Society awarded the film a perfect 4.5 out of 5 stars, with the review calling it an absolute knockout about love's potential to bridge divides and provide freedom, even if only briefly.

At the film's press conference, Lee addressed the eight-year hiatus since his previous work, Burning. He reflected on how life itself has moved on during that period, perhaps hinting at the thematic relevance of his new film. The positive reception for Possible Love raises hopes that Lee might finally win the coveted Golden Lion, the festival's top prize, a title he missed out on 24 years ago when he won the Silver Lion for best director with Oasis in 2002.