K-Movie Review: Past Lives

Writer: Mansi Bisht (Delhi, India)

Editor: Prachi Vaid (Delhi, India)

Past Lives, a movie released in 2023, can be comprehended as one of the most intimate movies that not only explores romantic connections but also focuses on human connections. The character of Hae Sung is played by Teo Yoo, and Nora is played by Greta Lee.

THE PLOT

The plot of the movie is based on the journey of two childhood friends, Nora and Hae Sung, who grew up in South Korea. They shared a close bond, and before anything could progress further, Nora immigrated to the United States. For a decade, they have not been in touch with each other until one day they unexpectedly cross paths online and begin on the journey of reconnecting with their adult relationship. The rekindled connection makes them wonder what they can be or what they could have been. The conversations on what-ifs and destiny bring more layers to the story.

THE DIRECTOR’S CRAFT

Celine Song, the director of the film, weaves places in the movie perfectly in accordance with the characters. The quaint, peaceful Seoul symbolizes Hae Sung’s persona as being naïve, which contrasts with Nora’s ambitious self in the loud and busy New York. The contrasting spaces help us to discover their contrasting personality. The musical score in the background also perfectly paces the plot with its musical rhythms. The emotions of the viewer heighten with the musical score as the protagonists meet, then separate and then reconnect again. 

Arthur, a character played by John Magaro, is an important character for the plot, as through him, we understand jealousy as another aspect of love. His discussions with Nora are thought-provoking and open the door to imagination and ideas. The silences throughout the movie put even more emphasis on the spoken words or dialogues by the characters. Oftentimes, it becomes a challenge for a director to set the tone for the movie as beautifully as a screenplay, especially when it comes to dialogues and monologues. But Celine Song has done it so beautifully that as a viewer, you will feel the emotions of the dialogue even though no fancy and heavy words are used. 

“On set, I kept reminding myself that the film’s most important moments are the silences. The camera had to hold space for everything the characters could not say.”

– Celine Song with Variety, June 2023

Again, with romantic movies where fate and destiny take the center stage, one can often find these movies to be repetitive with the same plot and dialogue in different words. But Celine Song makes sure that the movie remains clear in what it wants to convey and does not mess up with the core of the film. It is a fundamental concept that our view of love will be different as we experience more things in our lives and grow older.

The movie perfectly encapsulates how the idea and concept of love differ when we are teens, in our twenties, in our thirties and so on. The few scenes when both protagonists are children and teenagers evoke a bittersweet feeling in the viewers. Both of them, when they reconnect, are aware of what they are in their lives and what they could never become to each other. This awareness makes it even more heartbreaking for viewers who wish for things to take a different turn. The intricacy with which these emotions are handled makes this movie a masterpiece. 

What if this is a past life as well, and we are already something else to each other in our next life? Who do you think we are then?

-Hae Sung

CONCLUSION

This movie is incredibly well-made in terms of direction and dialogue, with amazing acting by the actors. After watching this movie, you will be melancholic for a long time, wondering about lost love and soul mates. But despite the melancholy, the movie is a must-watch to understand the nuances of immigration and its impact on identity from a closer distance. For me, personally, it was one of the best movies that I watched in 2023. 

Share your favorite moments from “Past Lives” in the comments below!