Korean film 'Possible Love' director Lee Chang-dong achieved the feat of receiving the grand jury prize at the Venice International Film Festival.
On the afternoon of the 12th (local time), the closing ceremony of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival was held at Sala Grande of the Palazzo del Cinema on Lido Island in Venice, Italy.
At this event, director Lee Chang-dong received the silver lion grand jury prize for his new film "Possible Love." It is the second-place award, immediately following the top prize, the golden lion. It has been a full 14 years since a Korean film won a trophy in the competition section, after Kim Ki-duk's Pieta (2012) won the golden lion.
In particular, this is the first time director Lee Chang-dong has won the grand jury prize. Lee Chang-dong, who previously won the director's award (silver lion) for Oasis (2002), again enjoyed glory at the Venice Film Festival after 24 years. At that time, Oasis lead actress Moon Sori won the best newcomer award for a convincing performance as a person with a disability.
Appearing on stage, director Lee Chang-dong said, "If it were not for the waiting and patience of so many people, this film probably would not have come into the world. I want to say I am sorry to producer Lee Jun-dong, who had to drink every day while waiting for this film," and expressed gratitude to his producer brother.
He continued, "I thank Netflix for believing in the film and making its production possible. I want to share this feeling I am experiencing now with everyone who made this film with me, and among them I want to express my gratitude to writer Oh Jung-mi, who resurrected this story that had to be folded away long ago and helped me create a new story," and added, "I thank the actors and staff who gave everything on set. Among them I thank Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeojeong, the four who gave life to this film; this award belongs to you," thereby crediting the actors.
Finally, director Lee Chang-dong said, "I made this film to ask what films can do and what films must do in an era when labor is disappearing and relationships between people are being severed," and added, "I will take your giving this award as a sign to continue asking those questions."
"Possible Love" was selected just before the closing ceremony as the winner of the FIPRESCI prize in the competition section, and Jeon Do-yeon's performance received praise throughout the festival, with talk of a best actress possibility. However, the top prize, the golden lion, went to My El-Toukhy's Woman Unknown, and Mathilde Arcel received the best actress award, leaving some disappointment.
Nevertheless, Variety praised Jeon Do-yeon, saying, "Jeon Do-yeon gave one of the most subtle and multilayered performances of the year," and complimented her detailed portrayal of the character's inner life as "(Mi-ok's) bright but eyes that do not fully reveal her inner thoughts." Indiewire also highly praised her, saying, "The Jeon Do-yeon of Silmang, less than 20 years after first working with director Lee Chang-dong, once again delivers a performance that could come once in a century."
Earlier, "Possible Love" was first unveiled through its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on the 6th (local time).
After the screening, several foreign outlets including Variety heaped praise and acclaim, and a seven-minute standing ovation broke out in the theater. Leads Sul Kyung-gu and Zo In-sung shed tears, and after the official press conference ended, reporters surged forward to get the actors' autographs.
"Possible Love" tells the story of a dismissed worker (played by Sul Kyung-gu) and his wife (played by Jeon Do-yeon), and a documentary director (played by Cho Yeojeong) and her husband (played by Zo In-sung), two couples who meet to make a documentary and face different lives and hidden desires. It is director Lee Chang-dong's new film, released eight years after Burning (2018).
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