[Sportschosun reporter George Jo] It is a meeting of the best and the best. A master director widely respected at home, along with unquestionably top-tier actors, will present audiences with a dense, lingering story centered on love.
On the morning of the 25th, Netflix film 'Possible Love' directed by Lee Chang-dong and produced by PINEHOUSE FILM CO., LTD., Anonymous Content, and Now Film held its production presentation at Hotel Naru Seoul - MGallery Collection in Mapo District, Seoul. Attending the event were Jeon Do-yeon, who plays Mi-ok, a woman living a harsh and relentless life while standing by her husband, a laid-off worker; Sul Kyung-gu, who plays Ho-seok, a dismissed worker who loses the foundation of his life after an abrupt and unfair layoff; Zo In-sung, who plays Sang-woo, the husband of documentary director Ye-ji, who seeks to capture the lives of a laid-off worker couple; Cho Yeo-jeong, who plays Ye-ji, a woman living in circumstances that contrast with Ho-seok and Mi-ok; and director Lee Chang-dong.
'Possible Love' tells the story of a laid-off worker and his wife, as well as a documentary director and her husband, two couples who meet while making a documentary and confront different lives and hidden desires. It is Lee Chang-dong's first new film in eight years since 'Burning,' released in 2018, and his first collaboration with the OTT platform Netflix, drawing global attention. As one of the most anticipated films of the year, it has already received invitations from major overseas film festivals, including the 51st Toronto International Film Festival and the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, proving its status as a buzzworthy title even before release.
In addition, 'Possible Love' drew attention by announcing a special theatrical release before its Netflix debut in order to qualify for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at next year's 99th Academy Awards. The film will first open in Korean theaters on September 23 and then be released worldwide on Netflix starting November 6.
Its star-studded cast also heightened interest in 'Possible Love.' Jeon Do-yeon reunites with Lee Chang-dong for the first time since 'Miryang' in 2007, while Sul Kyung-gu, who has appeared in three Lee Chang-dong films — 'Peppermint Candy' in 2000, 'Oasis' in 2002, and 'Possible Love' this year — once again leads the story as Lee Chang-dong's signature actor. Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu are teaming up for the fourth time, following 'I Wish I Had a Wife' in 2001, 'Birthday' in 2019, and 'Kill Boksoon' in 2023. Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong, who are working with Lee Chang-dong for the first time, are also expected to show striking transformations unlike anything they have done before, raising fans' anticipation.
At the event, Lee Chang-dong opened by saying, "I feel overwhelmed to be meeting everyone again after eight years," and added, "We are planning to unveil this film as a world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival. I am truly curious about how audiences around the world will respond to it for the first time."
He explained the film, saying, "As the title 'Possible Love' suggests, this is a film about love. Love can mean romantic love between a man and a woman, but it can also mean other kinds of love. For people like us who make films, the feelings we put into movies are also a form of love. This film asks what kinds of love are possible in our lives and how we can protect that love. I also hope people do not think of it as a specific company's true story. In Korean companies, large-scale strikes leave enormous aftereffects. I felt that they change not only our economy but life itself. As I worked on this film, I increasingly felt the necessity of talking about this issue, even more than when I first wanted to make it."
He also expressed trust in Netflix, saying, "Netflix approached this project with trust from the very beginning. Even so, we looked for investors in order to make it a theatrical film, and they waited for us. When things became difficult in practical terms, Netflix once again decided to join us out of its belief in this project and in me as a director. They never interfered or made demands throughout the production process. They respected my independence as a director. That remained true even after the film was completed, and it still does. In some ways, while making this film, I may have worked more comfortably than at any other point in my career."
Addressing concerns that "the era of theaters may be coming to an end," he said, "The point when I decided to make this film with Netflix investment was when the structure of the Korean film industry was at its weakest. It was a time when people doubted how much it could recover. Even so, I believe films must be made. As we all feel, the structure of the film industry is changing, and no one will be able to stop that trend. In the end, we have to accept that we must coexist. Within that, we need to think about how much closer we can get to audiences. We promised a theatrical release before the Netflix launch. Some may see that as something done for festivals, but it was a promise made to me from the beginning. Netflix kept that promise."
The actors also agreed that the main reason they chose the project was Lee Chang-dong. Jeon Do-yeon said, "The most attractive part of this project was Lee Chang-dong. When I said I would do it, I even rushed him to send me the script quickly. When I read the second version of the script, the afterglow was so powerful. I thought, 'This is Lee Chang-dong, after all.'" Sul Kyung-gu added, "I felt the same way as Jeon Do-yeon. At the time, my schedule made it difficult to join, so I was sweating over it. Director 'Miryang' helped me a lot. Just working with Lee Chang-dong was so great that I didn't even ask for the script. The producer even asked me, 'Are you not interested in the script?' I chose it because it was a Lee Chang-dong film, as expected."
Zo In-sung said, "I had just finished filming 'Humint' and 'Hope' back to back, so I was exhausted and wanted to rest, but Lee Chang-dong told me, 'Do this one and then rest,' so I joined. I also wanted to work with senior actors Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu, so I couldn't turn it down. I also wanted to work with Cho Yeo-jeong. There was no reason not to do this project." Cho Yeo-jeong added, "Fortunately, my schedule made it possible for me to appear. Working with Lee Chang-dong had been something I had long hoped for. After reading the script, the lingering feeling was so strong that I couldn't even contact him right away. I wondered whether I was even in a position to say it was 'good.' I also thought about when I would ever meet a project and actors like this again. I felt it was a blessed opportunity in many ways."
Jeon Do-yeon, who is working with Sul Kyung-gu for the fourth time, joked, "You can tell just by looking at each other's eyes. Since I have played a married couple with Sul Kyung-gu several times, I also wanted to meet a new spouse." She added, "Because we have been partners for so long, there is trust and confidence between us. I think that is why we were able to show chemistry that felt even more like a real married couple." She also laughed as she recalled meeting Lee Chang-dong for the first time in about 20 years since 'Miryang,' saying, "So much time had passed, but it felt like we had met just the other day."
Sul Kyung-gu, Lee Chang-dong's signature actor, said, "Before reading the script, I felt free, but after reading it, I felt a tension similar to what I felt during 'Peppermint Candy,' though not quite that intense. It also made me want to return to my original mindset. In fact, 'Peppermint Candy' was so hard. I had no experience, but the emotions were overwhelming. Yet as time passed, I found myself missing those feelings. When that longing became reality, I felt overwhelmed and excited. I also thought I might be able to return to my original mindset again."
Unlike Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, who is working with Lee Chang-dong for the first time, said, "I have always loved Lee Chang-dong's films, and opportunities to learn as an actor are not common. For this project, I went to set with the mindset that I would learn from Lee Chang-dong. It was such an honor for me personally to have this chance. Within a Lee Chang-dong film, everyone seemed to return to their original mindset. Everyone was tense and tried not to miss anything."
In particular, Lee Chang-dong confessed, "He is a character who is not visible in the story but dominates it. He is handsome, charming, and capable of everything, yet he does not show it off in a flashy way. I could not imagine anyone other than Zo In-sung in that role. I was worried about what would happen if he turned it down, but I think Director Ryoo Seung-wan helped build the bridge in the middle."
'Possible Love' stars Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong, with Lee Chang-dong, the director of 'Peppermint Candy,' 'Oasis,' 'Miryang,' 'Poetry,' and 'Burning,' at the helm. The film will open in theaters on September 23 and will be released on Netflix starting November 6.
George Jo, soulhn1220@sportschosun.com
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
