Lee Chang-dong and May el-Toukhy Premiere New Films at Venice Film Festival

South Korean director Lee Chang-dong returned to the Venice International Film Festival on Sunday with his new feature, Possible Love. The film, which is competing for the Golden Lion and has been designated as South Korea's official Oscar candidate for Best International Feature, explores the intertwined lives of two married couples from different social classes. The plot follows a documentary filmmaker and her husband as they connect with a laid-off worker and his wife. While some coverage describes the film as a sociological analysis of power and desire, a center-leaning source characterized the work as being meticulously crafted for critical praise but lacking spontaneity. Lee noted that the film resulted from his reflections on how human relationships have changed over the last eight years, including the impact of the Covid pandemic.

Also in competition is the film Woman Unknown, directed by May el-Toukhy. Set in post-World War II Denmark, the story focuses on a domestic worker who faces social peril due to a past romance with a German invader. El-Toukhy, who was initially the only female director selected for the official competition before the inclusion of Rachel Szor, stated that the film was inspired by historical photographs of women who were publicly shamed for their wartime relationships.

Other festival highlights included the premiere of The Echo Chamber, directed by Andrea Pallaoro from a script by Bernardo Bertolucci, starring Luca Marinelli, Alicia Vikander, and Susan Sarandon. Sarandon used a press conference to discuss her support for the Palestinian cause and the professional boycotts she has faced. Additionally, Wim Wenders presented a 3D documentary titled From Inside Out: The Architecture of Peter Zumthor outside of the main competition.