Lee Chang-dong returns to Venice Film Festival with ‘Possible Love’

South Korean director Lee Chang-dong has returned to the Venice Film Festival after 24 years with his new film, ‘Possible Love’. The 164-minute production, which is the director's longest work to date, received a six-minute standing ovation during its premiere at the 83rd Venice Film Festival.

Inspired by real events in South Korea involving factory worker strikes, the film explores the intersection of two couples from vastly different social classes. The narrative follows Ho-seok, a factory worker struggling with alcoholism following mass layoffs, and his wife Mi-ok, alongside Ye-ji, a wealthy documentarian, and her businessman husband. The plot intensifies as Ye-ji attempts to film a documentary about the company responsible for the layoffs, raising questions about the ethics of representing the working class.

The film features a prominent cast, including Sul Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon, Cho Yeo-jeong, and Jo In-sung. Due to explicit scenes involving nudity and sexual content, the film has been rated 18+ by the Korea Media Rating Board. It has also garnered significant critical attention, achieving a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.