Lee Chang Dong ponders the ethics of the camera

Burning director Lee Chang Dong grapples with the morality of filmmaking in his latest work, Possible Love. The film is based on a true 2009 event in which a Korean corporation let go a third of its workforce, leading to numerous suicides. Possible Love follows the aftermath of this labor struggle, a more complex and ambiguous period that defies simple interpretation.

The movie begins with an epigraph: "Thou shall not covet." Yet, the characters are consumed by their own desires, coveting each other's jobs, designer clothes, spouses, and social status.

Mi-ok (Jeon Do-Yeon) is Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu)'s devoted wife, a woman whose own husband has lost his job. At a colleague's funeral, Mi-ok encounters Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong) and her wealthy husband, Sang-woo (Zo In-sung). The film delves into the complex relationships and interactions between these characters.

In an interview during his New York trip, Lee discussed his political background and how it influenced his work. Born and raised in Daegu, a city known for its conservative values, Lee experienced the conservative mindset firsthand during the 1980 protests against the Chun Doo-hwan regime. This upbringing shaped his perspective on class and labor struggles, which are central themes in Possible Love.

Lee reflected on the ethical considerations of capturing others' stories through the camera, comparing his approach to that of fellow directors such as Bong Joon Ho and Park Chan Wook. He pondered how filmmakers like Ye-ji, who come from marginalized backgrounds, navigate their position in relation to the subjects they portray. Lee acknowledged that representing these dynamics accurately is challenging, but emphasized that the act of filmmaking itself carries inherent power.

The director and screenwriter Oh Jung-mi collaborated on Possible Love. Lee described their creative partnership as a blend of personal history and shared experiences, with both individuals drawing from their respective backgrounds to inform the film's themes. Through their collaboration, Lee and Oh Jung-mi aimed to explore the complexities of empathy, power, and the ethical responsibilities of filmmakers in representing the stories of others.