A24's Past Lives : My Impression

Recently, I had the opportunity to watch Past Lives on the big screen, just a few days after its release in Australia. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, as I hadn't done much research on it. However, I had heard good things about it, including high ratings on IMDb and positive experiences with previous A24 productions. Directed by South Korean director and playwright, Celine Song, Past Lives is a captivating romance/drama film about two childhood sweethearts from Korea who reunite after one of them emigrates. The film explores various themes, including love, loss, identity, friendship, and destiny, and it is beautifully executed. I highly recommend giving it a watch.

I was thoroughly impressed by this film. While the plotline wasn't overly complex or action-packed, what made it special were the well-crafted, endearing characters, the authenticity of the story, and the captivating chemistry. The subtleties throughout the movie were what set it apart for me, whether it was a lingering pause or a gaze that lasted just a moment too long. Celine Song successfully built tension and magnetism in the silence between the lines.

The film's portrayal of male vulnerability proved to be a noteworthy aspect that left a lasting impression. One of the opening scenes featured Hae Sung's friend being encouraged to cry while processing his heartbreak. Later on, Arthur exposes his innermost emotions to Nora during a candid conversation in bed. Even subtle actions such as Arthur sleepily laying on Nora and draping his leg over her, took on a more traditionally feminine placement that I realised I haven't been exposed to enough in cinema. Additionally, throughout the duration of the film, Hae Sung's character displays a balance of masculine demeanour and childlike vulnerability, despite upholding his traditional Korean gentlemanly conduct. He is consistently referred to as 'manly,' yet displays emotions and body language that traditionally would counteract this title. One of the most memorable instances of this is when he anxiously awaits Nora's arrival in a New York park, conveying his endearing childlike nervousness solely through his eyes and body language. In essence, Past Lives delves into a facet of men that is vital to see on the big screen: emotional vulnerability.

I was pleasantly surprised by how Arthur's character was portrayed in the movie. The director, Song, made carefully thought-out choices that created a tense yet captivating experience for the audience. In a typical romance movie, the childhood sweethearts would end up together after a better suitor, like Hae Sung, swoops in and proves to be a better match. However, in this movie, the audience is asked to admire and respect Arthur despite his stereotyped role as the "evil, American husband standing in the way." Arthur is sensitive to the situation, empathetic, and honest with Nora about his feelings. He even invites Hae Sung into his home and buys them drinks, despite being ignored and somewhat disrespected. Furthermore, when Nora cries about her unfinished relationship with Hae Sung, Arthur is there for her, offering support and letting her explore her complicated emotions. What makes this movie so complex is that the chemistry between Nora and Hae Sung is undeniable, yet the audience also respects the honest relationship and creative similarities between Nora and Arthur. Ultimately, all of the options for this film's ending are incredibly romantic in their own right, but also intensely bittersweet. Much like the relationship between Nora and Hae Sung, nothing is left feeling truly finished. This is what makes it so real and relatable.

The film tackled the topic of immigration and emigration, as well as cultural differences and identity, thoughtfully. Throughout the story, some instances emphasise the feeling of being an outsider. Nora, for example, was viewed as the Korean one by her American and Canadian peers, but when she reunited with Hae Sung, she realised how American she had become and how disconnected she was from her Korean heritage. She had even lost her Korean name, Na Young, and was even referred to as 'Nora Moon' by her mother which further demonstrates a challenging identity crisis. This dilemma was further highlighted in Nora's conversation with Arthur about her sleep-talking. Arthur noticed that Nora spoke only Korean in her sleep, which was surprising as she only spoke Korean to her mother, and as Hae Sung joked, she was very rusty. Nevertheless, her Asian roots are, evidently, deeply embedded in her subconscious. Nora's relationship with Arthur also exemplifies the cultural divide. Despite Arthur's respect and enjoyment of Nora's Korean heritage, he is still an outsider, and himself claims ‘it’s like there’s this whole place inside of [her] that [he] can't go." When Nora is reintroduced to her heritage through her relationship with Hae Sung, however, she rediscovers a part of her identity that she had previously dismissed. Perhaps this is why their relationship lights Nora up in a way that we hadn't yet seen, as not only does it reconnect her to her inner child but also her cultural identity.

Additionally, I was struck by Nora's mother's response when asked why she was leaving Korea, despite being an established artist there. She stated that leaving something behind also meant gaining something new. As someone who has moved countries a few times myself, I could relate to this sentiment. Moving always brings a mix of emotions as you leave behind familiar things and people, but also gain new opportunities and experiences. This idea also applies to other aspects of the movie. Nora's parents gave up their established lives in Korea for the chance at something greater, as well as better opportunities for their children. Nora herself left Canada to pursue her passion for writing and playwriting in New York. When she decided to stop communicating with Hae Sung, it was to focus on her own life without distractions. This led her to fall in love with a fellow artist at her residency and gain a deeper connection with him. She sacrificed a long-distance friendship for a meaningful, in-person relationship that ultimately led to her finding her place in New York.

Overall, I thought the actors did a brilliant job of conveying authentic humanness and deep-rooted emotion, and the subtle yet intriguing cinematic style added to the realism of the film. It was a thoroughly enjoyable movie and I would highly recommend watching it, especially on the big screen. What felt so refreshingly brilliant to me was that despite the chaos and complex emotions that undoubtedly consumed the character's minds, none of them acted entirely on impulse, yet they allowed themselves to deeply feel the emotions they were experiencing and voice them. Lastly, despite it being a timelessly romantic feature, there were no passionate sex scenes and not even a stolen kiss, yet it was the overwhelming sense of longing and tension that made the atmosphere so electric.

What did you think? How did you want it to end? I am intrigued to know.

PS. I gave it a 8/10 on IMDb