The English-Korean movie “Past Lives” had been in my watch list ever since it was nominated for the 2023 Academy Awards and I was finally able to get to it. Directed and written by the Canada-based playwright and screenwriter Celine Song, this semi-autobiographical debut venture of hers is nothing short of a sumptuous feast for the heart and mind.

The film follows childhood friends Nora nè Na Young (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) as they navigate the various emotions, that their close relationship invokes within them, at various stages of their lives. Having been close friends ever since primary school, they go on a parent-approved date at age 12, when they discover that they have feelings for each other. However, Na Young moves to Canada along her family soon after and the two lose touch.

We next see them 12 years later, where Nora is working with a theater in New York and Hae Sung is studying Engineering in Seoul. Nora looks up Hae Sung  by chance and the two start taking to each other over the internet, getting closer. However, this new beginning is again put on hold when Nora needs to go to a writers retreat and Sung makes plans to travel to China. Their paths diverge, with Nora meeting Arthur (John Magaro) at the retreat, whom she eventually marries, and Sung meeting a girl in China. 

Fast forward 12 more years and we see that Sung has travelled to New York to meet up with Nora after he breaks up with his girlfriend. These childhood sweethearts share beautifully poignant moments as they spend two days together. As the three primary characters go through a myriad of emotions in this muddled situation, these events culminate into two unbelievably tender and heart-tugging scenes between Nora and Arthur and Nora and Sung that I still can’t stop thinking about. 

I ask my readers not to fret that many of the plot points have been revealed in this review. This movie is an experience to be savored rather than a story to be watched; Song has delved deeply into the various facets that romantic relationships can contain through this movie. She takes her viewers into the sweetest moments of childhood romance and mires them into the many conflicts it can create in an individual when the inevitable break happens in the relationship. 

However what makes “Past Lives” stand apart, from the rest of the romantic dramas of a similar template, is the fact that it also gives us an insight into Arthur’s thoughts and feelings as he stands by his wife in this emotionally challenging time. I loved Magaro’s sensitive portrayal of Arthur; he has managed to convey the uncertainties and insecurities of a loving husband, who has to unexpectedly compete with the sweet memories of a childhood romance, brilliantly. 

The chemistry between Lee and Yoo is off the charts; Yoo’s gravitas complements the light of adventure in Lee’s eyes marvelously. They have both lived their characters; and they have captured the lived experience of these two people so much so that, when they finally meet in New York, you can see the life they have lived in their persona. 

The cinematography complements the meandering pace of the story, focusing majorly on people’s faces, while only giving a brief context about the environment they are in. The butterflies and excitement of first love, the pain of separation and the life they live overcoming this pain, have all been captured in mellow and muted tones, making us feel closer to these people and not feel like mere bystanders. 

This tender, emotionally rich and poignant drama is an experience to be savored by everyone and I couldn’t recommend this movie more. My Indian readers can watch it in Prime Video and I must insist,  please do not miss it. 

This movie gets an obvious 10 out of 10 stars.