Seoul: South Korean auteur Lee Chang-dong's latest feature, "Possible Love," has won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the prestigious Venice International Film Festival, marking another significant accolade for Korean cinema.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the film, featuring a star-studded cast including Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung, and Cho Yeo-jeong, was awarded the prize during the closing ceremony of the 83rd edition of the Italian film festival held in Venice. This marks the first Korean film to secure the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize and the first win at Venice since Kim Ki-duk's "Pieta" clinched the Golden Lion in 2012.
This achievement comes more than two decades after Lee's romance drama "Oasis" won the Silver Lion for best director, with lead actress Moon So-ri receiving the Marcello Mastroianni Award for emerging actors in 2002. In his acceptance speech, Lee expressed gratitude to the cast and crew, saying, "Everybody on set who gave life to this film, to all the actors and the staff, thank you. ... This award belongs to all of you." He further emphasized the film's thematic exploration of labor and human connection, stating, "I made this film to ask what cinema can and should do in times like these."
"Possible Love," Lee's first feature film in eight years following the critically acclaimed "Burning" (2018), explores the intertwined lives of a laid-off worker and his wife, alongside a documentary maker and her affluent husband. The film premiered at Venice to a seven-minute standing ovation and positive reviews, also receiving the FIPRESCI Prize for the best film in the competition.
In other highlights from the festival, the Golden Lion for Best Film was awarded to May el-Toukhy's drama "Woman Unknown," which also secured the best actress award. The jury for the festival was led by American director-actor Maggie Gyllenhaal.
The Silver Lion award adds to Lee's extensive collection of accolades, both domestically and internationally. A former high school teacher and novelist, Lee has directed acclaimed films like "Peppermint Candy" (2000), "Secret Sunshine" (2007), and "Poetry" (2010). Following the success of "Oasis" at Venice in 2002, Jeon Do-yeon won best actress at Cannes for "Secret Sunshine," while "Poetry" clinched best screenplay at the same festival.
"Possible Love" is scheduled for release in South Korea on September 23 and will be available on Netflix starting November 6. The Venice Film Festival remains one of the world's most prestigious film events, alongside the Cannes and Berlin International Film Festivals.
Source: Yonhap News Agency