“The Film I Could Never Make”: Juror Johnnie To’s Admission About Possible Love

The person who presented director Lee Chang-dong with the trophy for winning the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Venice International Film Festival was none other than Hong Kong director Johnnie To. To served on the competition jury this year. He was also the director who always said, “Lee Chang-dong is the best director in Asia today.” This time, too, while sharing his impressions as a juror, he said of 〈Possible Love〉, “I could never make a film like this.” That was also something he had long said about Lee’s films.

The two directors were scheduled to take part in a conversation titled “Lee Chang-dong X Johnnie To: Masters of Emotion and Action Talk About Each Other” at last year’s Busan International Film Festival. Unfortunately, the event was canceled after Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok Airport shut down because of a typhoon. To has been captivated by Lee’s work since seeing 〈Oasis〉 (2002). At a press conference where he discussed his impressions as a juror, he called 〈Possible Love〉 “the most mature film among Lee Chang-dong’s works,” prompting even greater curiosity. 〈Possible Love〉 will open in theaters on Sept. 23 and premiere on Netflix on Nov. 6.