Actors Zo In-sung (from left) and Cho Yeo-jeong, director Lee Chang-dong, and actors Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu on Aug. 25 pose for photos at a news conference for "Possible Love" at Hotel Naru Seoul M Gallery in Seoul's Mapo-gu District. (Park Dae Jin)

By Xu Aiying

Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) works at a mask plant and lives with her husband Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu), who was laid off, and their 10-year-old son. At the funeral of a former colleague of Ho-seok, the couple meets Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong), a documentary filmmaker who is producing a piece on laid-off workers, and her husband Sang-woo (Zo In-sung), who comes from a wealthy family. As both couples grow closer, they confront the differences in their lifestyles and hidden desires.

Director Lee Chang-dong is back with "Possible Love," an original Netflix production and his first feature film in eight years since "Burning" (2018).

At a news conference for the film on Aug. 25 at Hotel Naru Seoul M Gallery in Seoul's Mapo-gu District, Lee said, "As the title suggests, this is a film about love," adding that it asks "what kinds of love are possible in our lives and what we must do to preserve that love." 

Scene from "Possible Love" (Netflix)

The work was inspired by a mass layoff and general strike at a major corporation over a decade ago. Lee said he abandoned the idea of turning the incident into a film, but that he revisited the topic as technological advances have led to an era of disappearing jobs, making restructuring a reality that could affect anyone.

"Since your occupation is closely tied to your identity, getting laid off is something that changes both your life and identity," Lee said. "Now 10 years later, the need to tell this story has grown even more compelling."

The story begins with the conflict between labor and capital and ultimately finds the answer in love.

"As the forces seeking to control our lives are growing stronger, how should we live?" Lee said. "In times especially like these, I came to believe that what ultimately sustains our lives and allows us to carry on is the love between people."

"Possible Love" director Lee Chang-dong on Aug. 25 answers questions at a news conference for his film at Hotel Naru Seoul M Gallery in Seoul's Mapo-gu District. (Park Dae Jin)

Lee also raved about his strong trust in his cast. On actors Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu, he said, "When I told them I was making the film, they were enthusiastic about it without even asking to see the script."

"A certain tension between us as the cast and director existed when we worked together a few years ago, but the atmosphere on set felt much warmer than before given the many years we spent together and grew closer on a personal level."

Turning to Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong, with whom he worked for the first time, Lee called Zo "irreplaceable" as Sang-woo, a character who subtly dominates the film, while Cho "perfectly understood the character's inner world" in representing the director's perspective and position.

Director Lee Chang-dong (wearing glasses) works behind the scenes on "Possible Love." (Netflix)

Expectations for Lee's latest work are high both in Korea and abroad. "Possible Love" has been invited to the main competition section of the Venice International Film Festival, which opens on Sept. 2, where it will have its world premiere.

The movie is also Korea's entry for Best International Feature Film at next year's Academy Awards in March.

Jeon, who won Best Actress at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival for her performance in Lee's "Secret Sunshine," said she was "very surprised" by the Venice invitation, adding, "I'm both nervous and curious to see how 'Possible Love' is received by audiences overseas."

"I expected this but still felt great when I heard it," said Sul, who previously starred in the director's highly acclaimed "Peppermint Candy" (1999) and "Oasis" (2002). "It's been a while since I worked with the director and I'm so glad to hear this news."

The domestic release of "Possible Love" is set for Sept. 23 to meet the Oscar submission requirement that a film must be screened for at least seven consecutive days after its commercial opening in its home country before going on streaming sites.

Netflix will release the movie on Nov. 6.

xuaiy@korea.kr