Seoul: South Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong on Tuesday defined his upcoming feature "Possible Love" as a film that ponders over how love is possible and how it upholds our lives. Lee made the remarks at a press conference for the Korean film, which marks his first feature film in eight years following the critically acclaimed "Burning" (2018). It features a star-studded cast, including Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee explained that the film centers on the intertwined lives of two married couples -- laid-off worker Ho-seok (Sul) and his wife Mi-ok (Jeon) and documentary filmmaker Ye-ji (Cho) and her affluent husband Sang-woo (Zo) -- and the story that unfolds as they meet. The director emphasized that the film is not just about romantic love but explores different forms of love and its significance in sustaining life.

Lee shared that he began working on the story about 10 years ago, initially focusing on the lives of a worker laid off from a conglomerate and his wife, with Jeon and Sul in mind as the leads. However, he initially struggled to differentiate it from existing documentaries on similar themes. Last year, screenwriter Oh Jung-mi, who co-authored "Burning" with Lee, suggested adding another couple to enrich the narrative, prompting Lee to revisit the project.

Lee hopes audiences will view the layoff depicted in the film as a universal, life-changing event rather than being inspired by a specific company in South Korea. He highlighted the vulnerability of workers amidst the growing influence of technology and stressed that love, in its various forms, is what sustains us through such transformative experiences.

Collaborating with Netflix for his latest feature, Lee underscored the importance of creating quality films, irrespective of the platforms on which they are viewed. He noted that when he decided to collaborate with Netflix, the Korean film industry was at a low point, but he felt compelled to continue making films. Lee expressed hope that "Possible Love" would offer an intriguing perspective and alter viewers' perceptions of the world and their lives.