Lee Chang-dong's 'Possible Love' Returns to Class Conflict with Acclaimed Performances

Key points

• The film is based on the 2009 Ssangyong Motors strike, where police violently broke up a 77-day protest against layoffs, leading to several worker suicides.
• Lee Chang-dong co-wrote the script with Oh Jung-mi, introducing a documentary filmmaker character to navigate the ethical complexities of filming real trauma.
• Jeon Do-yeon plays Mi-ok, a resilient wife in a face-mask factory, while Sul Kyung-gu plays Ho-seok, a depressed former welder; their dynamic anchors the narrative.
• The film won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival and is South Korea's submission for Best International Feature at the Oscars.
• It is distributed by Netflix, which recently laid off 6% of its global workforce, adding a layer of irony to the film's themes of corporate restructuring.

Background

This is Lee Chang-dong's first feature since 'Burning' (2018), marking an eight-year gap between releases. His previous works, such as 'Secret Sunshine' and 'Peppermint Candy,' are renowned for their deep character studies of marginalized individuals. Jeon Do-yeon, who starred in 'Secret Sunshine,' is now considered a leading contender for the Best Actress Oscar, a first for a South Korean actress. The film contrasts with Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite' by focusing on contemplative realism rather than thriller elements, despite both films exploring class divides.

How outlets are covering it

NPR emphasizes the film's emotional depth and the 'novelistic richness' of its characters, highlighting the four lead performances as among the year's best. The Guardian focuses on the socio-political context, noting Lee's struggle to find domestic funding and his reliance on Netflix, which he compares to the film's themes of capital dependency. The New Yorker critiques the film's structure as a 'Russian doll' of documentary ethics, praising its handling of time and memory but noting the risk of exploiting real pain. The Hollywood Reporter centers on Jeon Do-yeon's career trajectory, framing her performance as the culmination of decades of defying industry norms regarding age and typecasting.

Why it matters

'Possible Love' represents a significant return for one of Asia's most respected auteurs, addressing timely issues of labor rights and corporate power. Its critical acclaim and Oscar potential signal a growing global appetite for nuanced, non-English-language dramas that tackle socioeconomic inequality. The film's success also highlights the evolving role of streaming platforms in funding high-art cinema, even as those same platforms face scrutiny for their own labor practices.

What to watch

The film will begin streaming on Netflix on November 6, 2026, following a limited theatrical release. It is expected to be a strong contender for the Academy Awards, particularly in the Best International Feature and Best Actress categories. Jeon Do-yeon will continue her promotional tour, including a stage performance in 'The Cherry Orchard' in New York, further cementing her status as a global star.