Director Lee Chang-dong's New Film 'Possible Love' Explores Survival in an Era of Labor's Demise

Director Lee Chang-dong is set to release his first Netflix film, "Possible Love," marking his return to filmmaking after an eight-year absence since "Burning." The movie, which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, delves into the lives of a couple who are laid-off corporate workers and another couple who are filming them.

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I am overwhelmed to meet you with a new film after 8 years. I am very curious about the audience's first reaction when it is first revealed at Venice.

"Possible Love" tackles profound questions about the nature of love in contemporary society. "If a typical love story implies that the love is difficult to achieve, our title directly poses the question of what kind of love is possible and what is needed to make it possible," Lee explained at a production briefing in Seoul.

The project has a long history, initially planned over a decade ago but later shelved. Lee revealed that he almost abandoned it again in 2022, questioning the necessity of a fictional film when documentaries on the subject already existed. However, a suggestion from co-writer Oh Jung-mi to intertwine the story of the laid-off couple with another couple's narrative revived the project.

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If a typical love story implies that the love is difficult to achieve, our title directly poses the question of what kind of love is possible and what is needed to make it possible.

Lee expressed his hope that "Possible Love" would resonate with audiences beyond its specific context of corporate layoffs in South Korea. "As we are all inevitably workers, I wanted to explore how we should live in an era where labor itself is disappearing. Perhaps in times like these, it is love that sustains our lives and connects people," he said. The film is scheduled for a two-week theatrical run starting October 23 before its worldwide release on Netflix on November 6.

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As we are all inevitably workers, I wanted to explore how we should live in an era where labor itself is disappearing. Perhaps in times like these, it is love that sustains our lives and connects people.