From acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Lee Chang-dong, Possible Love is a must-see drama film now streaming on Netflix. After winning the Grand Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, Possible Love looks to impress viewers worldwide as it tells the story of two married couples whose very different lives grow intertwined while filming a documentary. Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, and Parasite‘s Cho Yeo-jeong lead the way in this patient, exceptionally crafted movie exploring class differences and hidden desires.
The Gist: Choi Ho-seok (Sul Kyung-gu) was once an experienced welder at automaker SP Heavy Industries, proudly considering his coworkers brothers and finding community in the company, until mass layoffs cut 40% of the labor force. Although the wrongfully terminated metalworkers attempt to strike and stand strong as a union with the support of their families, their efforts are violently suppressed by police intervention, leaving Ho-seok bitter, hurt, and coping with alcohol. Two years after the layoffs, he joins his wife, Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon), and their 10-year-old son, Cheol (Jung Seol), at the funeral of a coworker who took his own life. There, Mi-ok tries to stop Ho-seok from drinking, inadvertently making a scene that catches the eye of documentary filmmaker Lee Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong).
Ye-ji wants to make a film about labor shrinking due to corporate restructuring, and she thinks she’s found her main “characters” in the Choi family. Mi-ok is immediately impressed by Ye-ji’s expensive lifestyle, effortlessly cool demeanor, and openly affectionate relationship with her handsome, rich husband Sang-woo (Zo In-sung), and she’s soon swept away by the chance to be seen, heard, and feel interesting outside of her working-class life and mundane job at a small factory. Ho-seok, however, is much less cooperative, repeatedly denying interview requests and refusing to participate in the group counseling sessions for those affected by what transpired with SP Heavy Industries.
As the two couples spend more time together, their economic disparity and different ways of life grow starker in contrast, leading to friction, jealousy, and revelations. Through it all, Cheol bears silent witness to grief, conversations, and scenes he’s likely too young to be confronted with, acting as the true documentarian unobtrusively watching the difficult realities unfold around him.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of? The artful, unflinching focus on the dynamics between the wealthy and working class certainly evokes Bong Joon-ho‘s Academy Award-winning film Parasite. You may also be reminded of historical drama films like Roma and Matewan. Strangely, I also couldn’t help but think of You Can See Everything.
Performance Worth Watching: Both Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu are incredible as Mi-ok and Ho-seok Choi. They deliver layered, evocative, and lived-in performances that immediately engage the viewer, only growing more arresting and vulnerable as the film goes on. Jung Seol is also impressive as the child actor playing their stoic son, Cheol.
Sex And Skin: There’s an instance of skinny-dipping where you see bare breasts and butts, and then later on, a short sex scene. Somehow it’s the former that feels more intimate, but both moments help cement this film’s “R” rating.
Our Take: Possible Love begins with the quote “Thou shalt not covet,” and this Commandment remains at the core of this movie as every main adult character seems to lose parts of themselves in desire for things they lack. While Mi-ok and Ho-seok’s desires seem to come from genuine places of familial love, pain, and wanting to belong, Sang-woo and Ye-ji’s desires feel more shallow. Ye-ji wants to feel like an altruistic everywoman and serious filmmaker, and believes she can achieve that by “helping” the Chois. Sang-woo seems content with his affluent lifestyle yet still appears to wish for “simple” things like children or easy gratification or amusement. All of this makes the four characters extremely intriguing in their messy realism, and all the more fascinating when brought to life by talented, dedicated actors.
Possible Love‘s beautiful shots are bolstered by Lee Chang-dong’s bold directorial choices that draw the eye and embrace the uncomfortable. Long silences or moments acting as painful reminders of the characters’ class differences make everyday subject matter feel bold and exceptional. The film shows more than tells, making it consistently affecting and relatable across language or cultural barriers. Cheol’s role is particularly fascinating to me, as a character whose constant presence and quiet judgment feel more moving and honest than anything documentarian Ye-ji could portray with her own narrow vision of the world. Overall, the film is full of sharp social commentary, thought-provoking interactions, and powerful performances that stick with you well after the credits roll.
Our Call: Possible Love is a compelling, beautifully made, and wonderfully acted South Korean film that’s sure to leave a mark on anyone willing to let the action unfold at its own pace. I can only hope this receives the Oscar noms it deserves. STREAM IT!
Maddy Casale is a Chicago-based writer and comedian who covers everything from animated series to Hallmark movies. Follow her on Duolingo @MCasale.
