Director Lee Chang-dong revealed that he discovered something far more valuable than receiving the Silver Lion at this year's Venice International Film Festival.
Attending the press screening and press conference for the film "Possible Love" held at CGV Yongsan in Seoul on the afternoon of September 21, Director Lee Chang-dong addressed a question about the significance of winning the Venice International Film Festival's Silver Lion (Grand Jury Prize), stating, "I am truly happy and honored."
He emphasized, "An award is just an outcome. For me, there was something far more important than winning trophies. The Venice Film Festival was the first place where this film entered the world and met audiences. How the audience would receive this film was much more important to me."
Director Lee continued, "Fortunately, even though it is not an easy or sensational film, I could see from the audience's facial expressions and their demeanor toward me that they deeply felt and resonated with the questions the film poses and what it tries to express."
"Possible Love" was the most talked-about title at this year's Venice International Film Festival. Earning the highest ratings from the press and critics through the closing stretch of the festival, it was widely mentioned as a strong contender for the Golden Lion. Ultimately, it received the Grand Jury Prize, which serves as the runner-up award. With this honor, Director Lee Chang-dong claimed a Venice trophy for the first time in 24 years since winning the Best Director award for "Oasis" in 2002.
"Possible Love" explores the disparate lives and inner desires that a laid-off worker and his wife, alongside a documentary directing couple, confront on a documentary set. The film stars Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong in the lead roles.
A Netflix film, "Possible Love" will open in select domestic theaters on September 23 before launching worldwide on Netflix on November 6.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)
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