Title – Past Lives (2023)
Director – Celine Song (feature debut)
Cast – Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro
Plot – Separated at childhood but reunited in their younger adult lives, American Nora (Lee) and Korean Jung Hae Sung (Yoo) decide to reconnect in person, setting in place a life-changing meeting of two interconnected souls.
“You make my world so much bigger and I’m wondering if I do the same for you?”
Review by Eddie on 22/11/2023
An assured a debut film as you’re likely to come across, debut director Celine Song’s considered and heartfelt drama Past Lives has quietly gone about becoming one of 2023’s biggest critical and audience darlings and it’s not hard to see why.
A film that may in simplistic terms be billed as romance but is anything but a straightforward Hollywoodised exploration of two childhood friends/connected souls reuniting together after years apart, Past Lives allows us to spend time with Greta Lee’s Korean born turned American citizen Nora and Teo Yoo as Jung Hae Sung as her friend and childhood sweetheart who stayed in Korea and has only just recently reconnected with her virtually and eventually in person in the bustling streets of New York City.
It’s an on surface level straightforward and even potentially predictable set-up but thanks to Song’s beautifully constructed and put together film, that never takes the easy route and gives us plenty of laughs, contemplation’s and tears, Past Lives is a layered and touching effort that has a broad appeal and a nice point of difference with its Korean heart on display throughout, gifting us a film that will likely hold its appeal long into the future.
With much of what transpires throughout Song’s film best left discovered by audiences who can sit back and enjoy what Past Lives has install for them over its never lagging 100 minute runtime, there’s still much to enjoy and celebrate that we can talk about, things such as Lee and Yoo’s naturalistic and awards worthy central turns, Song’s astute direction, Shabier Kirchner’s photogenic cinematography work and Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen’s fitting score, Past Lives has an abundance of worthwhile components all working towards a product that will resonate with many.
The type of film with a broad appeal, Past Lives will find itself connecting with anyone that has ever had a consideration for a what if moment? Anyone that has been separated from those they connected with on an unexplained level, anyone that had to adapt from their true self just to survive or anyone that just enjoys simple yet deceptively deep cinematic experiences that offer us as viewers something to ponder once the credits have rolled.
By the time Past Lives pitch perfect finale comes around, culminating in some of the best few minutes of screen time we will see in 2023, it’s abundantly clear that we have just witnessed the arrival of a new directional prodigy, one who hopefully is only just getting started.
Final Say –
A moving and effective drama that heralds in director Celine Song as a stunning new talent, Past Lives may touch on familiar narrative beats but its originality and heartfelt delivery ensures this is a special film, sure to be enjoyed now and well into the future.
4 1/2 Skype calls out of 5
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
A phenomenal film, stayed with me every since I saw it in so many ways, and that final third is beautiful.
I was really moved by the last section of this film. It really never played out the way you might typical expect, such a natural and humanly on point film.
E
Exactly, it’s odd because I think if you’re a certain age you’d probably ‘get’ it in a very different way to if you were much younger. Not that not everyone can enjoy it, but experience of life and moments, and all that…
Completely agree!
Yep totally mate. I think this one will really resonate with those over the age of 30 in different ways, just due to life experiences.
E
I watched this movie on DVD a couple months ago and really liked it. I watched it immediately after the first viewing. Copying and pasting what I said in my blog: I really liked that the film doesn’t show that much of Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) and Na Young/Nora (Greta Lee) as kids, so the viewer only has what is shown and the characters’ spoken and visual memories of each other. I need recommendations for films with a similar mise-en-scene and premise. Doesn’t matter the decade or language. Teo Yoo is such a good actor. His expressions… and when he said (paraphrased), “I didn’t think liking your husband would hurt so much,” the eyes got misty. Cairo Time (Ruba Nadda, 2009) has a simliar emotional tone.
When Asians and non-Asians talk about more or better Asian representation in film, some people are content with an increase in leading roles. I’ve never cared about the amount of representation, but this was the first time I could understand why visibility is still important. The characters’ ethnic background are crucial aspects of storyline, but the film doesn’t make it a big deal. That our childhood friends are Korean is a detail akin to dietary choices, allergies, favorite colors, fears, or having an emotional support stuffed animal all the time.
I am looking forward to telling anyone that wants to listen to me about why they should watch this film. It’s such a lovely experience and agree with what you said about the childhood scenes.
E
What an absolutely wonderful and affecting movie. Even though my own background is completely different, I found the emigrant experience angle very relatable. It captured that feeling you get when you meet someone from your country of birth, of having so much in common on one hand yet always feeling a cultural gap.
I really hope to see the film pop up at the end of year awards season, would be great to see if get more spotlight.
E
I’ve been meaning to watch this movie! It looks wonderful!
A genuine delight this one. Well worth tracking down!
E
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Great review! Loved this movie. So much that I went and saw it three times. Here’s why it resonated with me on a personal level:
https://huilahimovie.reviews/2023/12/09/why-past-lives-is-the-best-movie-of-the-year/
One I would have loved to see at the cinema! I do suspect its a likely main player at the upcoming Oscars.
E
This was the best film I watched last year.
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