Past Lives

A24 | Release Date: June 2, 2023

8.3	USER SCORE Universal acclaim based on 71 Ratings

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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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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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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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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