Lee Chang-dong is back with his first film since 2018’s critical darling, Burning. Known for his contemplative stories that reward patient viewers, his latest is his longest yet at 165 minutes. While some filmmakers will try their best to ensure that their project maintains a fast pace, Director Lee takes his time and trusts the attention spans of his audience. Possible Love, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and placed second for the International People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, is a magnificent work with tremendous emotional impact that lingers long after the credits roll.
Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu) has lost his job in the fallout of a labor strike gone horribly wrong. Documentary filmmaker, Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong), takes interest in him and his family as a primary subject for her latest project that covers the lasting effects of being laid off. While Ho-seok’s wife, Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon), leans into this opportunity, he remains reluctant to open up about his experience. As filming progresses, Ye-ji lets the family into her own life by introducing them to her husband, Sang-woo (Zo In-sung). The closer they get in their bond, the more apparent it becomes that each couple comes from completely different worlds.
The tenth commandment, “Thou shalt not covet,” introduces the story, dedicated to Krzysztof Kieślowski and the 10th chapter of his Dekalog series. Possible Love is the representation of what those four words mean to Director Lee. Through the lens of job loss and the act of storytelling itself, the focus stays on what these characters desire. This goes beyond what they look for in their respective relationships. While some goals for the characters may be clear from the start, others remain hidden until near the end. The distance between Mi-ok and Ho-seok grows, particularly as Ye-ji and Sang-woo present themselves as the more stable couple. As time passes, and the couples grow closer, their differences rise to the surface.
All four actors give tremendous performances that each highlight a specific type of yearning. Jeon Do-yeon gets the most substantial role, a beautiful portrayal of a parent longing for a love that has faded over time. Her motivation to improve workers’ rights following her husband’s battle clashes with this deep dissatisfaction. Cho Yeo-jeong balances a seemingly genuine attempt at connection with this inability to look beyond her privileges. Zo In-sung nails this detachment, simply focused on what he stands to gain from those around him. Then there is the enigmatic work of Sul Kyung-gu, boiling over the course of the film. As more devastating revelations are revealed, that is where pain takes over.
Director Lee never relies on flashy stylistic flourishes to manufacture drama. Instead, tension slowly builds, with our attention spread across the big picture. His meticulous choices of when to emphasize key details stand out more when everything surrounding them is so observational. Shots linger, soaking in the energy that flows between these people. In conjunction with Ye-ji directing the in-film documentary, we see what she chooses to highlight, and the boundaries she is willing to cross. This allows the writing from him and his co-writer, Oh Jung-mi, to chart an unpredictable course for where these lives intertwine and unravel. Entire sections of the story may not have their payoff until much later. Repeat viewing is sure to be a gift to unpack the many layers of this journey.
Some may be quick to draw parallels to other popular South Korean films about the class divide, like Parasite and Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice. Those comparisons not only reduce Director Lee’s work to its country of origin, but also fail to see what sets Possible Love apart from others that tackle similar subject matter. We are used to seeing movies about financial struggle founded on anger towards an unfair system. Rage can feel cleansing, but only to an extent. This film leans on how sadness can overwhelm to the point of turning someone hollow. When pain stores up within the soul, it forces people to surrender. They lose the urge to fight for what they deserve. It makes it easier to sit with the loss and accept the status quo, even when you know that you have been wronged.
With Possible Love, Lee Chang-dong taps into a rare kind of masterful, empathetic filmmaking. As dense as the screenplay gets, ruminating over the rich details brings about many thoughtful questions. What does it mean to truly connect? When do we reach our limitations on what we can understand about each other? What must we turn to for satisfaction when all seems lost? How can you move forward in life when you cannot see the road ahead? If any of those questions resonate, this is the movie that will provide a cathartic release.
Possible Love held its U.S. Premiere as part of the Main Slate section at the 2026 New York Film Festival. The film will debut in select theaters on October 23, 2026, courtesy of Netflix. The film will debut on the platform on November 6th.
Director: Lee Chang-dong
Writers: Lee Chang-dong, Oh Jung-mi
Rated: R
Runtime: 164m
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With Possible Love, Lee Chang-dong taps into a rare kind of masterful, empathetic filmmaking.
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GVN Rating
Ezra Cubero has been writing reviews for his own outlet Silver Screen Xpress for more than a decade, covering the latest film releases and attending various film festivals. He is also the Executive Director of the New Jersey Film Critics Circle. He is a passionate fan of movies and strives for positivity in online film discussion, celebrating all kinds of great art from around the world, both popular and underexposed.
