Director Lee Chang-dong’s latest drama, Possible Love, is now available to stream on Netflix following a theatrical release that began on October 23, 2026. The film, which earned the Grand Jury Prize at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, centers on the collision of two married couples from opposite ends of the economic spectrum. According to Decider, the narrative explores the “hidden desires” and class tensions that surface when a documentary filmmaker attempts to capture the lives of a working-class family reeling from corporate layoffs.
The Economic Divide at SP Heavy Industries
The story follows Choi Ho-seok, played by Sul Kyung-gu, a former welder at SP Heavy Industries. Ho-seok’s life fractured after mass layoffs eliminated 40% of the workforce, an event followed by a strike that was suppressed by police intervention. Two years later, Ho-seok, his wife Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon), and their young son Cheol attend the funeral of a former colleague who died by suicide.
At the funeral, their interaction draws the attention of Lee Ye-ji (Cho Yeo-jeong), a documentary filmmaker seeking subjects for a project on labor restructuring. As detailed by Indiewire, Ye-ji is a “casually rich dilettante” who relies on the funding and support of her affluent husband, Sang-woo (Zo In-sung). The film contrasts the Chois’ struggle with the “frictionless existence” of Ye-ji and Sang-woo, as the two couples become increasingly entangled through the documentary process.
Performance and Narrative Craft
The film is built on layered performances, with critics highlighting the chemistry and tension between the lead actors. Jeon Do-yeon and Sul Kyung-gu portray the Chois with a vulnerability that evolves as the film progresses. Indiewire notes that the script, written by Lee and Oh Jung-mi, is “mottled and probing,” refusing to simply retrench the divide between the wealthy and the working class.
The perspective of the couple’s 10-year-old son, Cheol, serves as a crucial element of the film’s structure. Decider reports that Cheol acts as an “unobtrusive” observer, bearing witness to the adult grief and jealousy that unfold around him. His presence provides a grounded, honest counterpoint to Ye-ji’s often narrow, outsider view of the labor crisis she intends to document.
Thematic Core of Covetousness
The film opens with the biblical commandment “Thou shalt not covet,” a theme that drives the character arcs of all four leads. While the Chois’ desires are rooted in familial survival and pain, the motivations of Ye-ji and Sang-woo appear more detached. Ye-ji seeks to project an image of an altruistic filmmaker, while her husband appears to wish for “simple” things like children or easy gratification or amusement.
Answers to Common Questions About Possible Love
Is this film a remake of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s work?
No. While the film is dedicated to the memory of Kieślowski’s Dekalog 10, Indiewire clarifies that Possible Love was conceived independently and shares nothing with the series beyond the initial biblical instruction.
What is the age rating for the film?
Possible Love carries an “R” rating, which Decider attributes to a short sex scene and a sequence featuring skinny-dipping.
What was the inspiration for the labor strike depicted in the film?
The script was inspired by real-world labor unrest that occurred at a major South Korean company more than a decade ago, according to reporting from Indiewire.
Worth a look