South Korea has chosen “Possible Love,” the first feature film from acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong in eight years, as its official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature. The Korean Film Council announced the selection this week, praising the film’s cinematic completeness and the clarity of its storytelling, along with its portrayal of layered, conflicted characters.
Netflix financed the project and holds international rights, and the streamer has committed to an awards-qualifying theatrical run in Korea, the United States and several other territories before the film reaches its platform. “Possible Love” will premiere in competition at the Venice Film Festival on September 6, marking Lee’s return to the world stage since “Burning” screened there and at Cannes in 2018. A Toronto Film Festival slot in the Special Presentations lineup follows shortly after.
The story centers on two married couples whose paths intersect after a funeral. Mi-ok, played by Jeon Do-yeon, lives quietly with her laid-off husband Ho-seok, portrayed by Sul Kyung-gu, and their young son. Ye-ji, a documentary filmmaker played by Cho Yeo-jeong, sets out to profile workers who have lost their jobs and enlists Mi-ok as a subject. As the two women grow close, Mi-ok finds herself drawn to Ye-ji’s husband, Sang-woo, played by Zo In-sung. Lee co-wrote the screenplay with longtime collaborator Oh Jung-mi.
Korean theaters will screen the film starting September 23, ahead of releases in Australia on October 22 and in the United States, Canada, Britain, Ireland and Japan the following day. Netflix will stream it worldwide beginning November 6.
This marks Korea’s fourth submission from Lee, following “Oasis,” “Secret Sunshine” and “Burning,” which became the first Korean film to reach the Oscars’ international feature shortlist. Lee, a novelist before turning to filmmaking, briefly served as South Korea’s culture minister in the early 2000s and has collected honors including Venice’s directing prize and a screenwriting award at Cannes. Pinehouse Film, which also backed “Burning,” produces alongside Anonymous Content and Nowfilm.
