PAST LIVES

Review: Two deeply connected childhood friends, Nora and Hae Sung, are torn apart after Nora’s family emigrate from South Korea. Twenty years later, they reunite in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and also the choices that make life.
Director: Celine Song
Actors: Teo Yoo, Greta Lee, John Magaro, Moon Seung-ah, Yun Ji-hye, Choi Won-young, Jack Alberts and Jane Kim
Year: 2023
Genre: Drama and Romance
Conclusion: 5/5
I have to say that this is one of the best films of 2023. I loved the musical score by Christopher Bear and Daniel Rossen. Actor, Teo Yoo was also in Decision to Leave (2022). This film reminded me in so many ways of Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy (1995, 2004, 2013). Another film it also reminded me a lot of were the final scenes of Yasujiro Ozu’s Tokyo Story (1953). This is Celine Song’s directorial debut and I do hope to get to see much more of her work in the future. The Empire magazine wrote about this film ‘Past Lives is delicate, slow-burning… but such is its emotional punch, it leaves you reeling.’ Empire.