Lee Chang-dong's ‘Possible Love’ wins Venice Grand Jury Prize, leaving questions beyond the award
Lee Chang-dong's new film ‘Possible Love’ was named the Grand Jury Prize winner at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. It is reported as the first Korean competition-section award at Venice since ‘Pieta’ in 2012, and the first time a Korean film has won the Grand Jury Prize. The award itself is significant, but Lee's acceptance-stage question—what cinema can do—also points to the heart of the film.
Key summary
- ‘Possible Love’ won the Venice Grand Jury Prize, one of the festival's major Silver Lion-level awards.
- It is reported as Korean cinema's first Venice competition-section prize in 14 years.
- For Lee Chang-dong, it is his first Venice award in 24 years since the directing prize for ‘Oasis’ in 2002.
- The film stars Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Jo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong and is described as dealing with labor and broken human ties.
Confirmed facts
- Yonhap reported that ‘Possible Love’ was named the Grand Jury Prize winner at the closing ceremony on the 12th local time.
- MBC, The Hankyoreh, and other major outlets also reported the award and highlighted its meaning for Korean cinema.
- The film was also reported to have won the FIPRESCI prize before the closing ceremony, confirming critical attention as well.
- In his acceptance remarks, Lee credited the actors and crew and referred to the questions cinema can ask about society and human relationships.
What to see first is the film's question, not box office expectations
News of a major festival award quickly leads to expectations about box office performance and platform release schedules. Lee Chang-dong's films, however, usually ask viewers to think slowly rather than consume quickly. ‘Possible Love’ is introduced as a story about a documentary filmmaker and a dismissed worker couple, looking at class, gaze, and the ethics of relationships. For viewers, the remaining task is to see not only the record of the award, but how the film looks at another person's life.
| Section | Key summary | Action / check point |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Jury Prize | A major Venice competition award recognizing the film's artistic quality | Official award record and jury comments |
| Prize after 14 years | Korean cinema's competition-section presence has been reaffirmed | Domestic release schedule and audience response |
| Theme | The film addresses labor, relationships, and the gaze toward others' suffering | Criticism and discussion after platform release |
What to watch next
- The official domestic viewing schedule and release format will matter to audiences.
- It should be watched whether the FIPRESCI prize and Grand Jury Prize lead to wider overseas distribution and screenings.
- The acting evaluations and the film's social questions will be important in Korean criticism.
- The award may also lead to discussion about Korean film production conditions, not only Lee's personal reputation.
Search keywords
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