[Dispatch=Reporter Jeong Tae-yun] Director Lee Chang-dong wrote a film scenario about mass layoffs at a major corporation over a decade ago. However, he ultimately did not complete the work. He lacked confidence in why he should make the film. The story that remained unfinished then gained the relationship of two couples. The film that began with the story of laid-off workers expanded into a narrative about love and class, desire and ways of life. And a question remained. Even if the conditions governing our lives change, what connects people to one another? What is necessary to make love possible? Director Lee Chang-dong found the answer in love. He said, "I thought that no matter how our lives change, what sustains our lives is love." The Netflix film 'A Possible Love' held a production briefing on the 25th at Hotel Naru Seoul M Gallery in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Director Lee Chang-dong, and actors Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu, Cho In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong attended. # Lee Chang-dong After 8 Years Director Lee Chang-dong has keenly captured facets of Korean society while exploring universal humanity within them. This time, he interwove the story of a documentary director with a large-scale mass layoff and general strike by a major corporation that occurred over a decade ago. 'A Possible Love' depicts 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 face different lives and hidden desires. He said, "I wrote the scenario and prepared the film over 10 years ago, but ultimately abandoned it in the end" and confessed, "Why should I make this film? I had no confidence." He first made it as a short film titled 'Heartbeat' in 2022. At that time, Jeon Do-yeon and Seol Kyung-gu also participated in the work with their voices. Later, screenwriter Oh Jeong-mi, who worked with him on 'Burning,' suggested unfolding the story by overlaying it with a different couple's narrative. The director explained, "I thought that if I overlap the story of another couple with the laid-off worker's story, different layers would emerge and the film could become richer" and "I ended up casting the two of them again as the protagonists of this story." So why was he captivated by the story of laid-off workers? "We can only all be workers. As time passed, the inevitability of having to tell this story grew stronger," he said. # The Possible 'Love' 'A Possible Love' unfolds the story of laid-off workers. But its central message is love. The more massive forces of labor and capital tighten life, the more he came to think about the importance of love. The director said, "No matter how our lives change, what sustains them is love. Isn't it the relationship of love that will continue to connect our lives unchanged going forward?" "Though there are several stories in the film, describing it as a story about love seems most fitting. As we live our lives, we will be able to ask multiple questions about what kind of love is possible and how we must protect that love." (Lee Chang-dong) 'A Possible Love' has been officially invited to the competition section of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, the Special Presentation section of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, and the main slate section of the 64th New York Film Festival, with its artistic merit recognized. Director Lee Chang-dong said, "This film will premiere first at Venice. I'm curious about the initial reaction of audiences. I am anticipating how it will be received by global audiences." # Jeon Do-yeon and Seol Kyung-gu, Again Jeon Do-yeon and Seol Kyung-gu reunited with Director Lee Chang-dong after a long time. Jeon Do-yeon worked with him on 'Secret Sunshine' (2007), and Seol Kyung-gu on 'Peppermint Candy' (2000) and 'Oasis' (2002). Lee Chang-dong said of the reunion with the two, "When we worked together over 20 years ago, there was tension between the director and actors. But as we grew closer as people in the meantime, the atmosphere on set became softer" and "I felt regret after filming ended." Jeon Do-yeon played 'Mi-ok'. Mi-ok is the wife of Ho-seok, a laid-off worker. She is also a worker at a mask factory. Despite the aftermath left on her family by the general strike, she tries to move forward by overcoming her wounds. The film crosses perspectives by alternating between the film's objective view of characters and the documentary footage recorded within Ye-ji's camera. Realism was that important. Jeon Do-yeon said, "The director does not approve of fabricated characters. I approached it with the mindset of opening my heart and thoughts as much as possible." Seol Kyung-gu took on the role of 'Ho-seok'. Ho-seok is a laid-off worker who continues to experience aftereffects long after the general strike and forced crackdown. He said, "The schedule didn't work out at all, but I really wanted to do it. I didn't sleep for three days" and "When I read the scenario, I felt a tension comparable to 'Peppermint Candy'. It took me back to the beginning." # Cho In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong, First Meeting Cho In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong met Director Lee Chang-dong for the first time. Cho In-sung played 'Sang-woo'. Sang-woo was born and raised in a wealthy family. He supports and helps his wife Ye-ji, who films a documentary about laid-off workers. Cho Yeo-jeong embodies 'Ye-ji'. Ye-ji is a director filming a documentary that illuminates the lives of laid-off workers. She makes genuine efforts to grow closer to the couple Mi-ok and Ho-seok for the completion of her work. Both actors also chose the work because of Lee Chang-dong. Cho In-sung recalled, "I went to the set with the mindset of learning. Within the director's work, we all returned to our beginner's mind" and "I remember acting with tension and trying not to miss the direction." Cho Yeo-jeong added, "Every second was precious and valuable. On set, I tried to be that character itself. Through that process, each day was precious and happy." Director Lee Chang-dong said of casting the two, "Sang-woo is a character who invisibly dominates this film" and "He is handsome, charming, and capable of everything, but he doesn't reveal himself. I couldn't think of any other actor besides Cho In-sung." He continued, "Ye-ji is a character with my perspective in the film" and "The sensitivity and empathy that actor Cho Yeo-jeong possesses were very close to the character's inner world." # To Netflix Director Lee Chang-dong is a filmmaker who has held the frontline of Korean art cinema. Such a director chose an OTT platform. Various voices emerged regarding his move to Netflix. The director said of this, "It was the time when the Korean film industry was most weakened. It was when there was doubt about how it would recover" but added, "nonetheless, I thought films had to be made." "As we all feel, the structure of the film industry is changing, and the trend of change cannot be stopped by anyone, I believe. Theater films and streaming services have no choice but to coexist." (Lee Chang-dong) Nevertheless, 'A Possible Love' is scheduled to be screened in theaters for approximately two weeks starting the 23rd of next month. He added, "Netflix promised a theatrical release and kept it. Within this change, we must think about how films can grow closer to audiences." Finally, he said, "I think our film may have a different character from films commonly seen on OTT services" and "I hope this film becomes a work that can slightly change how we think about the world and lives we live in." 'A Possible Love' opens in theaters on the 23rd of next month. It will be released on Netflix on November 6th thereafter.