Director Lee Chang-dong's new film, "Possible Love," is set to hit Korean theaters early on the 23rd.
"Possible Love" is the first film directed by Lee Chang-dong to receive investment from Netflix since his debut. It also marks the first time a Netflix original Korean movie has received a theatrical pre-release.
After being invited to the competition section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival and winning the Silver Lion - Grand Jury Prize, the second-highest honor, domestic audience expectations for "Possible Love" have surged.
"Possible Love" held a screening for multiplex programming teams last week, and the scale of its release has taken shape. A distribution representative shared, "The release scale is expected to be around 50,000 seats and roughly 100 screens."
This is a substantial scale for a Netflix original film, especially given the current market conditions where four Korean films targeting the Chuseok holiday are either released or awaiting release, and the 10 million-viewer hit "The Odyssey" is enjoying an extended run in its 7th week. This release will also include major multiplex chains.
"Possible Love" has been confirmed as South Korea's official submission for the Academy Awards next year. Garnering favorable reviews and an award at the Venice International Film Festival, the film has firmly established its presence on the global stage. Following its domestic release and subsequent launch on Netflix, the movie is expected to officially enter the Oscar race.
US media outlet IndieWire recently reported that "Netflix plans to push 'Possible Love' for Best Actress, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film at the Oscars." With acclaim from critics and press at the Venice International Film Festival and full-scale support anticipated from Netflix, expectations are high for a final nomination in the Best International Feature Film category.
The domestic pre-release is a strategic choice to meet the Academy Awards submission criteria (theatrical screening for at least seven consecutive days in the country of origin), as well as a gesture of respect for master director Lee Chang-dong. As many cinephiles eagerly await the return of the master, a significant turnout of audiences wanting to watch "Possible Love" in theaters is expected, raising anticipation for strong performance in seat occupancy rates.
"Possible Love" tells the story of two couples—a laid-off worker and his wife, and a documentary director and her husband—who meet to produce a documentary and confront their different lives and hidden desires. It stars Sul Kyung-gu, Jeon Do-yeon, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong. The film will have a limited theatrical run in domestic theaters starting on the 23rd, followed by its official global release on Netflix on November 6.
(Photo: Yonhap News) (SBS Entertainment News, Reporter Kim Ji-hye)
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