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10

MaTheMeatloafJun 2, 2023

Past Lives is a little stunner of a film. It really floors you in its final moments but that’s just because everything that’s happened before has been so finely tuned. One of the best debuts in recent memory and easily the best film of thePast Lives is a little stunner of a film. It really floors you in its final moments but that’s just because everything that’s happened before has been so finely tuned. One of the best debuts in recent memory and easily the best film of the year so far.… Expand

7 of 7 users found this helpful70

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10

netflicJul 4, 2023

Wow... I haven't seen a movie of this caliber for years. It's an instant classic.
Everything is top-notch here: directing, the script, cinematography, music and, of course, acting.
It's a slow but intense personal drama without any politicalWow... I haven't seen a movie of this caliber for years. It's an instant classic.
Everything is top-notch here: directing, the script, cinematography, music and, of course, acting.
It's a slow but intense personal drama without any political nonsense so popular nowadays (unfortunately).
What a debut for Celine Song! Brava! I will be looking forward to her future works.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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10

MichcacjonesJul 2, 2023

I loved this film! So understated yet emotionally powerful in its storytelling and character development. The 3 main characters were acted beautifully and were so relatable and authentic. This now ranks amongst my favorite films ever!

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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8

moviemitch96Jun 26, 2023

Two childhood friends from Korea (Greta Lee and Two Yoo) fall in love with one another, only to be separated when the girl moves to New York to pursue writing. The two lose contact over the course of over two decades, and the woman eventuallyTwo childhood friends from Korea (Greta Lee and Two Yoo) fall in love with one another, only to be separated when the girl moves to New York to pursue writing. The two lose contact over the course of over two decades, and the woman eventually meets her husband (John Magaro) but finds herself unexpectedly reconnecting with her friend when he visits New York. The two reflect on fate, circumstance, and what might've been had things played out differently in their lives. Written and directed with such a keen eye by Celine Song in her directorial debut, there are so many quiet yet touching moments throughout this beautiful film that made me reflect upon my past and the people and love in my life that has touched or impacted me in various ways or another. The themes of first love, home, chance, happenstance, etc. Are all utilized to great and profound effect here. Storywise, even if I felt as though the film lost its footing a bit in the middle act with its pacing, it still very much moved and impacted me more than a fair amount, with tears being brought to my eyes on more than one occasion. As for the performances, all three of the leads here bring such a sensitive and thoughtful approach to each of their characters, making them feel so genuinely relatable and human in all the best ways. Overall, despite some uncertainty with the pacing at times, this is a film that has a lot to say about love, fate, what was or wasn't meant to be, and why certain people enter our lives.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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10

teddywymanJun 18, 2023

Stick with this absolute gem of a film. A lot of things happen as you watch it which seem minor or inconsequential, but by the climax of the film it all falls into place. It is a beautiful and emotional movie that should touch anyone whoStick with this absolute gem of a film. A lot of things happen as you watch it which seem minor or inconsequential, but by the climax of the film it all falls into place. It is a beautiful and emotional movie that should touch anyone who views it, because it has messaging we can all relate to and has emotions we have all felt.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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7

JLuis_001Jun 29, 2023

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Maybe I'm having a different reading of this movie, but, while I liked it quite a bit, it also left me with a lot of doubts and questions.

Past Lives is a good movie, but without wanting to sound like a bitter **** I think it seeks to romanticize a situation that responds more to impulses, desires and longings than true love.

Its whole plot is based on a Korean concept where if you meet someone, even briefly, it means that you also knew them in a past life, and lovers are people who have met again and again in our past lives. It sounds nice, but can something like that justify our actions and our feelings?

Yes, clearly in an idyll of this caliber the story should have a deeper weight than it implies, but I think the message of Past Lives is completely lost in its lack of authenticity.

I firmly believe that everything we do in our lives shapes us. It forges our whole identity, and our relationships with other people, whether loving, sexual or friendly, are part of it all. But what does it all mean, if everything you've built, the life you've established, could be shattered by your childhood sweetheart? Especially when the answer depends entirely on your actions.

Past Lives is the ultimate what if. And that's because even completely fortuitously for her character, the protagonist's husband accepts that he's perhaps the extra person in the equation and basically tells her that if he's in her way, he'll step aside.
Especially since you're conveniently made to know that their marriage was apparently an act of settling and convenience. Is that ideal? I don't know. It's not realistic though.

And this issue becomes aggravated in its conclusion because, obviously, one must ask: what is left? And the answer is dissatisfaction. Both characters will be left with the doubt of what they didn't do or say, and that void will be there forever. Her tears in the stairs are the immediate proof of that.

I know it doesn't sound like it, but I honestly did enjoy this movie. There are a lot of issues to explore, and I love that. Plus, it's a very clean, dialogue-driven movie with solid performances, especially that of Greta Lee, but I can't hide the credibility issues that I had with its plot.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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10

QLA1992Jun 30, 2023

Watching this deeply personal and meditative film will go down as one of the very best moviegoing experiences I have enjoyed in recent years. Director/writer Celine Song and her triumvirate of actors Greta Lee, John Magaro and Teo Yoo areWatching this deeply personal and meditative film will go down as one of the very best moviegoing experiences I have enjoyed in recent years. Director/writer Celine Song and her triumvirate of actors Greta Lee, John Magaro and Teo Yoo are worthy of serious awards consideration.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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10

MarkHReviewsJul 13, 2023

Writer/Director Celine Song has used her own life story to craft 2023’s best film so far.

Nora is twelve years old and has a crush on her classmate Hae Song. Unfortunately for the burgeoning romance, Nora’s parents have decided to leaveWriter/Director Celine Song has used her own life story to craft 2023’s best film so far.

Nora is twelve years old and has a crush on her classmate Hae Song. Unfortunately for the burgeoning romance, Nora’s parents have decided to leave Seoul and immigrate to Canada. Twelve years later, Nora and Hae Song reconnect through the miracle of social media. Their relationship becomes a series of video calls where the sense of connection is palpable. Eventually though, Nora decides that they should stop talking for a while; she wants to focus on career opportunities in her new home town of New York City. Another twelve years later, Hae Song decides to vacation in New York City. It’s an opportunity for him to see a now-married Nora face-to-face for the first time in twenty-four years. It’s all sweet, sad and thoughtful. In the process, this film offers more observations about the human condition than any film in recent memory.

Several elements make this film outstanding. The cast is pitch perfect. As the adult Nora, Greta Lee (“The Morning Show,” “Russian Doll,” Will Aronson’s musical “My Scary Girl”) is mesmerizing. She blends her well-honed comic timing with a sincerity and vulnerability that are irresistible. As Hae Song, Teo Yoo (“Leto,” “Decision to Leave”) is equally impressive. You can often read his emotions without a word having to be spoken. John Magaro (“The Big Short,” “First Cow”) has a smaller but still essential role as Nora’s husband, Arthur. In one of the best film scenes in recent memory, Nora and Hae Song are in a bar speaking in animated Korean while Arthur sits patiently, uncomfortably beside her.

Clearly, this is a film that could have gone in a million different directions. Song deftly uses her story to explore a variety of themes – the nature of relationships, the immigrant experience, the necessary balance between work and relationships, the role of fate (and the Korean concept of “in-yun”). She does it all in an unhurried style that makes “Past Lives” feel similar to Richard Linklater’s “Before” trilogy. It’s my guess this film will be equally well-loved and critically regarded.

What’s most surprising here is Song’s self-confidence as a first-time filmmaker, given that she has the additional responsibility of being true to her own story. Many of the story elements of “Past Lives” are autobiographical. Song emigrated from Korea to Canada at age 12. She, like Nora, is a playwright. She currently lives in New York City with a husband she met on a writer’s retreat, like her character.

Realizing and respecting the power of her story, Song infuses this film with an unhurried pace that allows real emotions to develop and well-earned insights to come to the surface. Song has the self-confidence to highlight the power of words left unspoken. She uses her technique to convey the insurmountable gulf between two characters who, paradoxically, are standing two feet apart.

Like many of the best films, “Past Lives” will serve as an incentive for self-reflection for many moviegoers. You’ll leave the theater pondering the arc of your own story and the crucial “what-ifs” that have affected your own journey. “Past Lives” is a powerful, evocative experience for any moviegoer with a beating heart.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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9

jlbutsonJul 4, 2023

Beautifully crafted and filmed movie that touches on chance encounters as well as meaningful exchanges that alter the course of our lives but occasionally we can reflect back on without remorse. Well cast.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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9

HerickDienerSep 2, 2023

Há muito tempo não assistia a um filme com diálogos tão dolorosos e pausas silenciosas que machucam o tanto quanto. A dualidade de Celine Song em dirigir e escrever um filme tão sutil e profundo é admirável. Aqueles cinco segundos de volta aoHá muito tempo não assistia a um filme com diálogos tão dolorosos e pausas silenciosas que machucam o tanto quanto. A dualidade de Celine Song em dirigir e escrever um filme tão sutil e profundo é admirável. Aqueles cinco segundos de volta ao passado na cena final foram de partir o coração até do maior psicopata que assistir.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

ODballin11Jul 2, 2023

This movie just feels so real. It was a roller coaster ride. I can't even pinpoint what part I liked the most, but I know I really enjoyed Nora and Hae Sung reconnecting over Skype the first time around. It was such a touching scene. TheThis movie just feels so real. It was a roller coaster ride. I can't even pinpoint what part I liked the most, but I know I really enjoyed Nora and Hae Sung reconnecting over Skype the first time around. It was such a touching scene. The connection was impossible to separate Well done… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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9

QuagFire101Jun 30, 2023

It's been quite a while since my theater was left in completely silent shock by the end.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

shiningmoonJun 30, 2023

This movie is so subtle, moving and lovely . One of the best film I seem so far this year. MUST SEE .

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

fra92Jun 9, 2023

Beautiful, tender, powerful. Finally, a great movie released in US cinemas. I loved the screenplay, the performances, and NYC as a setting is so beautiful and perfect. Totally recommend watching it.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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10

tri88Jun 10, 2023

i think good not bad, it really good moment beuatiful tri88 Totally recommend watching it. I loved the screenplay, One of the best debuts in recent memory and easily the best film of the year so far the good video i like that's

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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9

joshybeanJul 2, 2023

Real life can can **** suck. This movie exemplifies that in many different ways. Good stuff.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

davemelbourne58Jun 21, 2023

Past Lives is a good film, but I hesitate to call it a great film. For every scene that works so well...I can think of 3or 4 scenes that dragged. It is beautifully shot, and the leads both wear their hearts on their sleeve, but I wasn't asPast Lives is a good film, but I hesitate to call it a great film. For every scene that works so well...I can think of 3or 4 scenes that dragged. It is beautifully shot, and the leads both wear their hearts on their sleeve, but I wasn't as moved as I hoped I would have been.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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4

Brent_MarchantJun 10, 2023

As the son of parents who were childhood sweethearts/soul mates, I tend to be a sucker for movie romances that address this subject. In this case, however, the only “sucker” aspect applies to the money I plunked down to watch this two-hourAs the son of parents who were childhood sweethearts/soul mates, I tend to be a sucker for movie romances that address this subject. In this case, however, the only “sucker” aspect applies to the money I plunked down to watch this two-hour snoozefest. Writer-director Celine Song’s debut feature has been praised as a masterful piece of filmmaking and one of the best pictures of 2023, but I heartily beg to disagree. When a pair of young, tightly knit Korean friends, Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), part ways from their native Seoul and are later reunited in New York after a 24-year separation, the reunion of these childhood pals provides them with an opportunity to reflect on what might have been. However, their time together consists mostly of a series of overly bloated pregnant pauses, inane dialogue and missed chances to discuss much of anything meaningful, the kinds of scenes that make even the most patient viewers want to yell “Get on with it already!” These “conversations” come nowhere close to matching their joy of their spirited youthful interactions or the heartfelt, substantive talks that later take place between Nora and her husband, Arthur (John Magaro). The result is, quite frankly, a big fat bore that’s trying to be more than it is but never achieves that outcome. Perhaps the biggest problem with this is the film’s truly sincere but decidedly paper thin narrative that doesn’t have the writing support to bring it all into beautiful full bloom, despite some fine performances, exquisite cinematography and an emotive background score. From this, the director would appear to have a hefty reserve of potential stashed away, at least based on this offering’s stylistic elements, but the substance could use some definite shoring up. Let’s hope her next effort lives up to that.… Expand

1 of 9 users found this helpful18

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5

TVJerryJun 29, 2023

Two kids are best friends and possibly more, but her family emigrates from Korea to the US. The rest of the story takes place 20 years later, when she's married and he comes to visit her in New York (clearly still carrying the torch). NotTwo kids are best friends and possibly more, but her family emigrates from Korea to the US. The rest of the story takes place 20 years later, when she's married and he comes to visit her in New York (clearly still carrying the torch). Not only are the emotions subdued, but filmmaker Celine Song has imbued the film with the same constrained style…lots of long pauses and quiet staring. Even with the deliberate pacing and muted undertone, there's a tender tension that makes their frustrated romance gently compelling. (Some dialogue in Korean with subtitles)… Expand