Sul Kyung-gu on the art of saying nothing in 'Possible Love'

Sul Kyung-gu delivered a powerful performance as Ho-seok, a blue-collar worker grappling with trauma from mass layoffs, in the Netflix film Possible Love directed by Lee Chang-dong. The film depicts Ho-seok's silent struggle with guilt, shame, and anger following a failed labor strike, a role Sul described as demanding due to its heavy emotional restraint combined with intense internal conflict.

Possible Love was released on Netflix after a short theatrical run and is currently part of the Oscar race. Sul expressed confidence in the film's potential to win major awards, acknowledging Netflix’s commitment to its campaign. Despite his optimism, the movie did not claim the top prize at the Venice International Film Festival, an outcome that disappointed the actor.

Lee Chang-dong’s direction, characterized by a gradual emotional buildup, posed challenges for Sul, especially because the shooting was done out of chronological order. A pivotal scene where Ho-seok finally speaks on camera required Sul to draw on emotions from unfilmed moments, leading to multiple takes and a delayed successful shoot.

Sul emphasized the character’s silence as a manifestation of his inability to process profound emotional turmoil rather than mere reticence. This portrayal aligns with Lee’s instruction to focus on internal feeling over overt expression, a technique the actor had navigated in previous collaborations.

The narrative centers on Ho-seok’s wife, Mi-ok, played by Jeon Do-yeon, who participates in a documentary that gradually exposes class disparities between families and becomes a catalyst for Ho-seok’s tentative engagement with his pain.

Beyond his artistic challenges, Sul reflected on the real-world context that inspired the story, which draws from the experiences of workers impacted by mass layoffs. While he did not initially meet these workers before filming, he later engaged with some at a screening where a therapist noted the film’s potential to provide partial emotional healing.

The film’s conclusion offers a nuanced sense of hope tempered by sadness, reflecting that despite the comfort found in shared hardship, the systemic losses endured by workers remain largely unresolved. Sul’s portrayal underscores this tension, capturing a character caught between despair and the solace of companionship.

Sul's interactions during press engagements revealed a contrast between his offscreen openness and the guarded demeanor of his character, emphasizing the actor’s ability to compartmentalize the intense emotions required for Ho-seok.

The film’s release on a global streaming platform like Netflix enhances its visibility and accessibility, potentially expanding its cultural and social impact beyond Korea’s borders.

Sul’s collaboration with Lee Chang-dong on Possible Love marks a continuation of their work together on emotionally charged melodramas, suggesting a deepening rapport that benefits the depth of character portrayals in Lee’s films.

The film’s emphasis on working-class struggles and labor issues adds a significant narrative to Korean cinema’s exploration of societal challenges, inviting broader discussion on economic and emotional repercussions of mass unemployment.

Possible Love’s positioning in the awards circuit, supported by Netflix’s resources, indicates a strategic effort to elevate Korean cinema within international award platforms, potentially influencing future distribution and production trends.

The emotional intensity Sul Kyung-gu brought to the role, particularly in scenes requiring non-verbal communication of trauma, highlights the actor’s range and dedication, reinforcing his status as a leading figure in contemporary Korean film.

The film’s critical and emotional resonance, coupled with its social realism, suggests its relevance extends beyond cinematic artistry, offering a poignant reflection on the human cost of economic upheaval.