Past Lives (2023) Romance Movie Review
How do you know if a relationship is genuine? Is it those lingering glances that make you lose track of time? Or perhaps it's the non-stop conversations that you can't get enough of? Maybe it's the special moments you share, or simply lying beside your partner, planning dinner. In the captivating film "Past Lives" by Celine Song, every subtle hint of affection becomes a potential spark for something more. The movie explores the delicate emotions of relationships at different stages, from childhood crushes to the complexities of adulthood. It's a thoughtful film that offers both self-reflection and entertainment, featuring two characters who show how relationships, whether fully realized or not, shape our lives.
The story begins in South Korea, where a young girl named Na Young has a crush on a boy in her class, Hae Sung. Their budding relationship takes a turn when Na Young's parents decide to move to Canada. Over the next twelve years, their lives take separate paths in different countries. Na Young, now Nora, becomes an aspiring playwright in New York City, while Hae Sung, an engineering student in Seoul, never forgets his childhood sweetheart. Thanks to Facebook, they reconnect and navigate the challenges of long-distance through regular Skype calls. However, as they focus on their early careers, the video calls eventually stop.
%20Romance%20Movie.jpg "Past Lives (2023) Romance Movie")
Fast forward another 12 years and Nora and Hae Sung reconnect. Hae Sung visits New York, bringing back all the feelings they thought were left behind. "Past Lives" beautifully captures the complexities of relationships, illustrating how love can endure, evolve, and resurface even after years of separation.
Song's first film is like a storytelling masterclass. As a playwright turned filmmaker, she skillfully focuses on Nora and Hae Sung, creating a dreamy atmosphere around them. Despite their special connection, it never really becomes physical. Every intense gaze, late-night video call, unsent email, or happy smile tells the story of their relationship. Song's script is filled with realistic dialogues that reveal vulnerable emotions, moving the audience with genuine conversations rather than dramatic gestures.
Cinematographer Shabier Kirchner frames "Past Lives" with tender care, giving us close-ups of Nora's face and Hae Sung's expressive reactions. Their long-delayed reunion takes us from magical moments on Brooklyn's waterfront to sunny ferry rides and street-lit walks in the East Village. This playfulness contrasts with their childhood in Seoul, where they took hilly routes home and played among modern sculptures. Regardless of the setting, the camera captures their connection, making us feel that nothing else matters at that moment.
Beyond being a love story, "Past Lives" explores more than romantic feelings. Song uses the film as an opportunity to express thoughts on the immigrant experience. Nora's mom justifies their move abroad, saying, "If you leave something behind, you gain something, too." This sentiment echoes throughout Nora's life as she builds a career in New York City and marries a kindhearted writer named Arthur. However, she admits feeling disconnected from her Korean roots, rarely even speaking Korean these days. Opening up about her childhood crush on her husband, Nora expresses insecurity about her relationship with her own culture, saying, "I feel so not Korean when I'm with him."
In "Past Lives," Song weaves Nora and Hae Sung's shared background into the story like an essential thread beyond their personal interests. Hae Sung represents the life Nora didn't experience because she moved away—a sacrifice made for something new. Their shared language becomes a private channel, even baffling Nora's American husband at times. However, having something in common doesn't guarantee shared feelings, as shown through the film's recurring motif of In-Yun, past encounters influencing present connections. Nora casually dismisses it with her husband, Arthur, but Hae Sung takes it seriously, contemplating his delayed visit to New York. They're on different paths, yet deep down, they remain the kids they first met.
With much of the focus on Nora and Hae Sung, Lee and Yoo effortlessly bring authenticity and grace to their roles. Their characters' excitement to talk feels genuine, and their meandering conversations ring true. Lee and Yoo convey a rich backstory through their looks, hinting at restrained emotions beneath polite smiles. A single sigh can unleash tears, mourning a love that never blossomed, a life that slipped away, and a childhood growing more distant.
This blend of nostalgia, love, and remorse makes "Past Lives" powerful and enchanting. While reminiscent of films like Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love,” Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise," and David Lean’s “The Passionate Friends,” the movie distinctly belongs to Song. Her skillful creation of settings, careful construction of the characters' relationship, and the swift return of excitement to their conversations after years of silence set it apart. The film embraces a romantic perspective on what could have been, savoring those possibilities like sandcastles washed away by time. We relish the memories of our past lives, recognizing the loss of childhood treasures left behind, unexplored paths, and relationships that were never meant for us.