Past Lives

Do you ever wonder about meeting the right person at the wrong time? Or do you think that if they were truly the right ones, timing wouldn’t really matter, and you would find a way to be together no matter what? Do you think most of our connections with people happen by chance? And could that feeling of familiarity when our eyes meet really mean we know them from our past lives, just like it’s believed in Buddhism? Should we just feel lucky that our paths crossed in this life time with someone special, even if it’s just once? The 2023 movie “Past Lives” explores these questions in an elegant, tender, and yet powerful way.

Celine Song, a Korean-Canadian playwright, made her filmmaking debut with “Past Lives.” It tells the story of two childhood sweethearts reuniting years later in New York and trying to decipher the meaning of their connection. Interestingly, Song drew from her own life experience for this story. Like the main character, she emigrated from Korea to Canada at a young age with her parents, leaving her childhood sweetheart behind. And similarly, she launched a successful playwright career in New York and married an American man.

In an interview, Song shared that she was inspired by a moment in a bar where she found herself interpreting between her American husband and her childhood sweetheart visiting from South Korea. That night, she felt her past and present lives intertwine for a magical moment, which later became the opening scene of the film.

“Past Lives” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023 and quickly became one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year. Alongside receiving many awards, including the AFI Awards for Movie of the Year, it also earned nominations for an Oscar and a BAFTA for Best Original Screenplay.

The film’s storyline resonates deeply because we all have relationships that leave us unsure of what to do. It serves as a reminder of how one’s personal story can become universal when told authentically.

While the poetic and natural dialogue in the film has been praised in many reviews, there are a couple of scenes where the dialogue felt a bit forced. For instance, in the park scene before immigration, the conversation between two moms seems more informative for the audience than natural. Similarly, the scene at the passport checkpoint where we learn about Nora and John’s marriage could have been more subtly integrated.

One dialogue that particularly stood out to me was when her American husband mentions that she sometimes speaks Korean in her sleep. It’s a poignant moment that makes us reflect on the idea of our loved ones having another world apart from us.

What I appreciate most about this film is that it doesn’t follow the classic trope of choosing between two love interests. Instead, the protagonist chooses herself. It’s about pursuing dreams, living in New York, and succeeding as a playwright. And the best part is she’s unapologetic about it, which is especially empowering for women. Yes, love does win, but only when it aligns with our dreams for ourselves.

Here is the script: https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Past-Lives-Read-The-Screenplay.pdf