[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] Director Lee Chang-dong’s new film, “Possible Love,” made its debut at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, where it received a standing ovation lasting over six minutes and widespread acclaim. International media outlets have also praised the film, and attention is now focused on its potential to win awards.

“Possible Love” had its world premiere on the 6th (local time) in the Competition section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy.
After the red carpet event, the official screening concluded to a standing ovation lasting over six minutes from the audience. Following the screening, actors Seol Kyung-gu and Jo In-sung were seen shedding tears.
“Possible Love” tells the story of two couples—Ho-seok (played by Seol Kyung-gu), a laid-off worker, and his wife Mi-ok (played by Jeon Do-yeon), as well as documentary director Ye-ji (played by Jo Yeo-jeong) and her husband Sang-woo (played by Jo In-sung)—who meet to produce a documentary and come face-to-face with each other’s different lives and hidden desires.
Since its premiere, the film has also received a string of rave reviews from international media. The U.S. publication *Variety* praised it, stating, “Director Lee Chang-dong’s unfathomably deep eighth feature film is imbued with wit, soul, and social insight.” It also highlighted Jeon Do-yeon’s performance in particular.
The Hollywood Reporter described it as “a quiet yet powerful film that delves into the economic and emotional anxieties of modern society.”
As of 9 a.m. on the 7th, the film has a 100% Fresh rating on the international review site Rotten Tomatoes and a 96 out of 100 on Metacritic.

“Possible Love” is director Lee Chang-dong’s first feature film in eight years, following “Burning” (2018). This marks the first time in 24 years—since “Oasis” (2002)—that Director Lee has been invited to the Venice Film Festival’s main competition. Having won the Best Director Award for “Oasis” back then, Lee Chang-dong is now competing for the festival’s top prize, the Golden Lion.
The last time a Korean film won the Golden Lion at Venice was for the late director Kim Ki-duk’s *Pieta* (2012). If *Possible Love* takes home the Golden Lion, it will mark the first time in 14 years that a Korean film has won Venice’s top prize.
In particular, the reception at this year’s Venice Film Festival is significant as it serves as a springboard to major film festivals both domestically and internationally. Having successfully completed its world premiere, “Possible Love” was selected as South Korea’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards and is set to continue its global tour, having been invited to major international film festivals such as Toronto, New York, San Sebastián, Zurich, Vancouver, and Busan.
Amid worldwide acclaim and being touted as a strong contender for the Venice Film Festival’s Golden Lion Award, the results of the awards ceremony—which will determine the winner—are scheduled to be announced on the 12th. “Possible Love” will have a limited release in select theaters in South Korea on the 23rd, before becoming available to audiences worldwide on Netflix on November 6.