As director Lee Chang-dong's new film "Possible Love" receives an overwhelmingly positive response at the Venice International Film Festival, lead actor Jeon Do-yeon is also garnering high praise for her performance.
Invited to the competition section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, "Possible Love" held its official screening on the afternoon of the 6th at the festival's main theater, Sala Grande.
"Possible Love" follows the story of a laid-off worker and his wife, along with a documentary director and her husband, two couples who meet for a documentary production and confront their different lives and hidden desires. Following the screening, a roughly six-minute standing ovation erupted. Sul Kyung-gu and Zo In-sung were moved to tears, while Jeon Do-yeon and Cho Yeo-jeong smiled and encouraged the two actors at the unexpected display of emotion.
American film outlet Variety conveyed the emotional atmosphere at the scene, stating, "The applause and cheers could have gone on much longer, but the actors and director were guided toward the exit by festival officials and left the Palazzo del Cinema. Given that a major theme of 'Possible Love' is the commandment 'You shall not covet,' the cast and crew might be more than satisfied with just this reaction from the audience."
Immediately following the screening, rave reviews poured in from overseas media. Major outlets praised director Lee Chang-dong's direction and the message captured in the work, noting: "Director Lee Chang-dong has crafted the most powerful and mesmerizing film of his career" (Vulture); "Director Lee Chang-dong's observant gaze at humanity stands firmly at its peak. His sharp insight into characters' inner emotions and social reality is second to none" (The Hollywood Reporter); and "A finely tuned production with beautiful performances and a novelistic texture" (The Guardian), while also lauding his unique, persistent, and delicate perspective in probing the human interior.
In addition, they did not hold back praise for the dense ensemble created by the four lead actors: "All four lead actors fully unleash their acting prowess" (Deadline), and "Jeon Do-yeon of 'Secret Sunshine' delivers yet another once-in-a-century performance, less than 20 years after her first collaboration with director Lee Chang-dong" (Indiewire).
Alongside the acclaim for Jeon Do-yeon's performance, Sul Kyung-gu is also receiving high evaluations for his top-tier passionate acting, with talk of a potential acting award already circulating. Portraying a couple of laid-off workers, the two are receiving responses for sublimating the film's themes of deprivation and desire through exceptional emotional acting.
Both actors are attending the Venice International Film Festival for the first time. Jeon Do-yeon previously made history as the first Korean actor to win Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007 for the film "Secret Sunshine." Winning another acting award in Venice would write history once again.
As for Sul Kyung-gu, his film "Oasis" was invited to the competition section in 2002, but he was unable to attend due to his filming schedule. Stepping foot in Venice 24 years later and even winning an award would undoubtedly make this an unforgettable memory.
Following its world premiere, "Possible Love" has emerged as the most talked-about film of the festival's midpoint, recording a 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and a score of 96 on Metacritic. Currently, 11 out of the 20 competition films have been unveiled.
The Netflix film "Possible Love" will have a limited theatrical release starting September 23 before meeting global audiences worldwide through Netflix on November 6.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)
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