(Movie Review) 'Possible Love' patiently explores modern love and class with quiet power

Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong's newest film, Possible Love, delicately explores the nuances of modern love and class, earning him a Venice award for his first feature in eight years. The story revolves around two married couples who become entangled through a tragic event at a funeral. Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu) and Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) are a working-class couple, while Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong) and Sang-woo (Zo In-sung) are a couple from a more affluent background.

Their paths cross at the funeral of a laid-off worker who took his own life, an experience that still affects Ho-seok. The film follows the evolving relationships between these characters, delving into themes of economic disparity, belonging, and the moral boundaries between filmmakers and their subjects. Lee skillfully builds the story's complexity over its nearly three-hour runtime, weaving in moments of humor and raw emotion.

The performances by Sul Kyung-gu and Jeon Do-yeon, as well as Cho Yeo-jeong and Zo In-sung, are noteworthy, as they portray their characters with depth and authenticity. Possible Love emphasizes the impact of class and economic hardship, contrasting the lives of the laid-off workers with those who remained employed. The film concludes with a poignant scene of the main couple sharing soju under the moonlight, leaving viewers contemplating the complexities of love, class, and filmmaking. The movie will be available on Netflix starting November 6.