‘Possible Love’, South Korea’s Venice grand jury winner, asks what love means in an age of AI
SEOUL, Sept 14 — In a Venice Film Festival filled with Hollywood stars and high-concept cinema, South Korean direc...
South Korean director Lee Chang-dong brought home the Venice Film Festival's prestigious Grand Jury Prize for his film "Possible Love" on September 14, marking South Korea's first win in the category. The award represents Korea's second-highest honor, just below the Golden Lion. "Possible Love" explores the impact of immigration, artificial intelligence, and widespread job losses on ordinary lives.
The story centers around Mi-ok, skillfully portrayed by Jeon Do-yeon, whose marriage to Ho-seok, played by Sul Kyung-gu, has been upended by her husband's unemployment. The film follows Mi-ok's growing bond with Ye-ji, a documentary filmmaker capturing the stories of laid-off workers. Their relationship highlights the chasm between those who can escape poverty and those trapped within it.
Director Lee Chang-dong, known for his socially conscious films since his 1997 debut "Green Fish," developed "Possible Love" after meeting laid-off workers. Initially considering the project as a documentary, Lee shelved it before returning to it during the Covid-19 pandemic. He aimed to create a film about the possibility of healing and creating love in an era where it might seem unattainable.
The director emphasized this sentiment at a press conference before the Venice Film Festival: "In an age when love seems impossible, I wanted the film to ask what kind of love is still possible, and what we need to do to make love possible." "Possible Love" has been chosen as South Korea's submission for the Best International Feature Film at the 2027 Oscars, set to release on Netflix on November 6.
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