Past Lives Review: Celine Song's Story Of Love And Fate Will Move You Beyond Measure
🎞️ When is Past Lives in cinemas: September 7, 2023?
⭐️ Our rating: 5/5
🎭 Who's there? Greta Lee, Theo Yu, John Magaro
👍 What we like. Celine Song's script, the subtle yet powerful visuals, and the chemistry between Greta Li and Teo Yu.
👎 What we don't have. Since this is an artistic film, some viewers may lose patience with the narrative.
📖 What is he talking about? When childhood friends Nora and Hye-sun reunite after decades apart, they reflect on love and fate.
Past life "What if?" He often asks, which is what the two protagonists, Nora (Greta Lee) and Hye Sun (Teo Yu), do after they break up due to circumstances beyond their control.
The pair were childhood friends in South Korea but lost touch when Nora immigrated to Canada with her family. It took them 12 years to meet again thanks to social media, and another 12 years before they were able to meet in person, and by then Nora was married to Arthur (John Magaro).
Read more. The most exciting movies of 2023
Drawing on her Korean-Canadian experience of immigration and reuniting with someone from her childhood, writer-director Celine Song has created a profound and poignant story about love, loss, and friendship.
The name Past Life is taken from the Korean concept of fate called Ying-yun, which means two people believed to have a deep connection with each other who have traveled through time and will meet in their own lives.
Read more. Making Celine's song "Past Lives" made her "fall in love with filmmaking." (Hollywood Reporter)
In-young is the perfect way to portray Nora and Hae-sung's relationship, they feel like they should always be together, and Lee and Yoo are absolutely charming in their roles, making these people and their relationship real.
Actors convey so much with just one look. Even in the scenes where they don't say anything, their performance will make the audience understand everything that's going on in their minds, which is also a testament to Song's skill as a writer and director.
What other reviewers think of Past Lives.
telegraph. This beautiful beginning is the best love story of the year
disparity. Sundance Stunner by Celine Song will wow the Art-House audience
Every scene feels intentional, every word matters, and the visuals Song weaves together add so many layers to the characters and their relationships, not only between Hae-Sung and Nora, but also for her and Arthur.
There's a point in the movie where Arthur says that Nora and Hye-sung's union would make a perfect story, and that he's just a "white guy on the street," and it's true that the audience will see that, despite Nora's innocence. Loyalty to him
It's a scene that shows Song's writing skills and the amount of thought he put into telling this story, and that's what makes the film so effective because Song understands the story so well and what he wants to convey.
It's really nice to go over each chapter of Song Nora and Hye Sung's past story. Told in a simple, subtle and quiet way, this is a love story that will leave you feeling overwhelmed.
Past Lives is in theaters now.
Watch the trailer for "Past Lives."
