Lee Chang-dong Returns With Possible Love
Possible Love is the striking new Netflix original film directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, which recently premiered at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. The movie marks a significant milestone as the first Korean film to win a major prize at Venice in 14 years, following Pieta. During the domestic press preview at CGV Yongsan in South Korea, director Lee revealed that the story originated from his deep shock over a major corporation’s mass layoffs and the forceful suppression of a sit-in strike a decade ago. The star-studded cast features veteran actors Sol Kyung-gu, Cho Yeo-jeong, and Jo In-sung, alongside Jeon Do-yeon, who participated via video link from the United States due to her New York theater schedule.
A Gripping Tale of Class, Trauma, and Freedom
The narrative follows documentary filmmaker Yeji (Cho Yeo-jeong), who investigates laid-off workers and crosses paths with Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) and her husband Hoseok (Sol Kyung-gu) at a suicide funeral for a striking worker. Hoseok is physically and mentally broken from police brutality during past protests, while Mi-ok works relentlessly at a mask factory to support their family, including a 10-year-old son with Asperger’s syndrome. Their fragile lives are upended when wealthy filmmaker Yeji invites them to her husband Sang-woo’s (Jo In-sung) luxurious seaside villa. At the villa, tensions erupt and long-suppressed pains come to the surface under the guise of hospitality.
Jeon Do-yeon’s Career-Defining Performance
Critics praise Jeon Do-yeon’s performance in Possible Love as surpassing her acclaimed emotional roles in Secret Sunshine and Birthday. As a female lead driving the narrative forward in an unprecedented way for a Lee Chang-dong film, Jeon delivers a powerful portrayal of a woman stripping away vulnerability to claim her freedom against oppressive capital. Following a limited theatrical run in South Korea starting September 23, 2026, Possible Love will release globally on Netflix on November 6, 2026.
