Director Lee Chang-dong's "Possible Love," a South Korean drama that previously won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice International Film Festival, is now available on Netflix. The film delves into the complex relationships of two married couples whose lives become entangled during the filming of a documentary.
The story centers on Choi Ho-seok, a former welder laid off from his job at SP Heavy Industries. Still grappling with bitterness from the mass layoffs and the subsequent violent suppression of worker protests, Ho-seok and his wife, Mi-ok, are approached by documentary filmmaker Lee Ye-ji. Ye-ji intends to create a film about the impact of corporate restructuring on labor and sees the Choi family as her central subjects.
Mi-ok is drawn to Ye-ji's affluent lifestyle and the attention her family might receive, while Ho-seok remains resistant to participating. As the filmmaker and the subjects spend more time together, the stark economic disparities and differing life experiences between the two couples begin to surface, creating friction and revealing hidden desires. The film also features the couple's young son, Cheol, who quietly observes the unfolding events.
"Possible Love" draws comparisons to Bong Joon-ho's "Parasite" for its exploration of class dynamics. The performances of Jeon Do-yeon as Mi-ok and Sul Kyung-gu as Ho-seok have been highlighted for their layered and evocative portrayals. The film is noted for its patient pacing, beautiful cinematography, and Lee Chang-dong's directorial choices that emphasize visual storytelling over explicit dialogue.
The drama touches on themes of coveting what others possess, with each main adult character driven by different forms of desire – some rooted in genuine familial love and pain, others in more superficial aspirations. The film's social commentary and nuanced interactions are described as powerful and thought-provoking.