Past Lives - A Movie Review

Maybe we’ve met each other in a past life.

Past Lives is a 2023 film. Two childhood friends reconnect after being apart for over two decades. Nora and Hae Sung reunite one fateful week as the latter travels from South Korea to the U.S. The pair face the notions of unrequited romance.

You don’t see too many romance films like Past Lives. The film is beautiful and sincere. To its credit, the film does a noteworthy job with an element that could have been misinterpreted in the wrong hands. We have one life. Make the best decisions that will impact your life.

How come the Oscars ignored nominating Greta Lee and Teo Yoo for their provocative performances? This is a genuine depiction of a friendship that closed its doors too soon. Both actors studied their characters well. To make it more impactful, the actors were kept separated to achieve the authenticity of their characters' close (but distant) relationship.

None of the characters are at fault for their decisions, but their attitude affects their decisions. Nora was only a girl when she immigrated so it wasn’t her choice. She becomes a successful playwright and marries. As for Hae Sung, he has issues with relationships.

Until the last scene, I had mixed opinions about Arthur (John Magaro). He is jealous of the situation and doesn’t hide it. He rants to Nora about every ‘what if’ situation if Hae Sung comes to visit. As contentious as Arthur is, he is not written as the antagonist. He is understanding and supportive of Nora’s decisions.

Past Lives harbors significant depth in its themes, characters, story, and message. Celine Song’s debut direction was overlooked at the Oscars. This film is loosely based on true events from Song’s life. Song spends the right duration analyzing these characters and their emotions.

Cinematographer, Shabier Kirchner set the tone of the film. Each frame is composed to evoke the emotions of the characters and the depth of their connection. The visuals are understated as the characters travel their locations. Filming occurred in South Koria, Canada, and New York City.

The story for Past Lives is not as simple as you think. It aims for a subtle approach and yet it speaks volumes to the character's actions and emotions. Song restrains most of the underlying messages but avoids feeling into the typical cliches. It weaves a poignant and sincere love story, a combination that we don’t see enough of.

This relationship is relatable for several viewers who had to leave childhood friendships behind. Sometimes friendships aren’t meant to be while others are cut off at the wrong time. The video chats between Nora and Hae Sung enhance the meaning. It’s hard thinking about what life could have been if you took the other pathway.

Regret is a theme. Regret is manifested in different ways and various feelings. We are the writers of our pathways. Decisions are not always easy. Be thankful for the life that you have. It’s okay to think about other scenarios, but we can’t waste time regretting.

You can feel the weight of the emotions in each scene, specifically the final scene. Done in a smooth one-take, the direction of the climax is metaphorical of the past, present, and future. It made my heart ache.

Past Lives is one of my favorites of the Oscars and it deserves as much praise for its effective presentation. Most of the film is spoken in Korean dialect but don’t let the language barrier stop you from watching this film. Past Lives is a must-see this Oscar season.