Lee Chang-dong's Venice Return
Director Lee Chang-dong returns to the Venice Film Festival with acclaimed drama Possible Love.
Anonymous
Key Points
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The film revisits South Korea’s 2009 labor conflict, when mass layoffs led to prolonged strikes and a violent crackdown, blending those real events with fictional storytelling.
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Lee Chang-dong said the documentary director Yeji is the character closest to his own identity as a filmmaker, reflecting his longstanding concern over how closely storytellers should position themselves to workers, minorities and other subjects whose stories they tell.
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Lee said the project faced a major setback in early 2025 because of difficulties securing theatrical investment amid a severe downturn in South Korea’s film industry; Korean box-office revenue fell 33% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, while attendance dropped 32%.
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Possible Love is co-produced by Lee’s Pinehouse Film, U.S.-based Anonymous Content and South Korea’s Nowfilm, and it is scheduled to have its North American premiere in Toronto’s Special Presentations strand after Venice.
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Lee said he spent several years developing the screenplay with his Burning co-writer Oh Jung-mi and only proceeds with a project when he believes it is meaningful to himself, audiences and the work itself.
South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong has returned to Venice with his first feature in seven years, Possible Love, which premiered in competition for the Golden Lion. The drama follows two couples—a laid-off factory worker and his wife, and a documentary filmmaker and her wealthy husband—whose lives and desires become entangled. We Are Resonate reported the film received a seven-minute standing ovation at its world premiere.
Lee said the story reflects how the pandemic and social upheaval have reshaped human relationships and whether cinema can still connect people. Netflix financed the film, and South Korea has selected it as its Oscar entry for Best International Feature. Critics have praised it as intelligent and visually accomplished, with strong performances from Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong.
A Seven-Year Gap Ends at Venice
Possible Love marks Lee's return after Burning in 2018. The director spent several years developing the screenplay with his Burning co-writer Oh Jung-mi. Lee said he only proceeds with projects when he believes they matter to himself, audiences and cinema. Screen Daily reported the Venice premiere came after the film faced major setbacks in early 2025 when securing investment proved difficult.
South Korea's film industry faced a severe downturn, with box-office revenue falling 33% year-on-year in the first half of 2025 and attendance dropping 32%. The film is co-produced by Lee's Pinehouse Film, U.S.-based Anonymous Content and South Korea's Nowfilm. It will have its North American premiere at Toronto's Special Presentations strand after Venice.
Real Labor History Woven Into Fiction
The film revisits South Korea's 2009 labor conflict, when mass layoffs triggered prolonged strikes and violent crackdowns. Lee blends those real historical events with fictional storytelling about two intertwined families. The narrative explores how workers and filmmakers navigate questions of representation and proximity to those they portray.
Lee identified the documentary filmmaker character Yeji as closest to his own identity as a storyteller. The role reflects his longstanding concern about how closely filmmakers should position themselves to workers, minorities and other vulnerable subjects. This tension between observer and participant drives the film's emotional core.
Venice Audiences Embrace the Return
We Are Resonate reported Possible Love received a standing ovation lasting seven minutes at its Venice premiere at the Sala Grande. ZAPZEE also noted the enthusiastic reception, with reporters swarming to get autographs from the cast. The film's ensemble—led by Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Cho Yeo-jeong and Zo In-sung—drew particular praise for their delicate performances.
Critics have called the film intelligent, visually accomplished and emotionally nuanced. Sports Chosun reported that the cast "took Venice by storm" with their presence and work. Netflix's backing signals confidence in the project and its potential to reach global audiences beyond the festival circuit.
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