Past Lives (2023)

[Britnasty]

5/5. A++++.

I can’t even write into words right what I just experienced with this film. I’ll write a review after I speak to my therapist. Wow. A24 has another Best Picture contender on their hands.

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

BTW - A24 is conducting a survey for people who have seen the movie, you can receive a $5 gift card just for filling out the survey after watching the movie.

Send me a PM if you want the link.

I’m gonna need that link ha. They can pay my copay for the uppers I’m gonna need to be put on.

[unberechenbar]

Saw this yesterday and the theater was really full. I heard some people discussing the film in the lobby as I was leaving. Unfortunately, I missed the first 10 minutes due to traffic and making a wrong turn on the freeway since I wasn't familiar with the area, so I only caught a bit of the childhood scenes before Nora left. I really liked the part when the husband was

[Show spoiler]worried about Nora dreaming in Korean and Hae Sung saying that for him, Nora was someone who leaves but for Arthur she was someone who stays.

A lot of the reunion seemed to just be the two leads looking at each other, sometimes awkwardly. I wasn't sure what Hae Sung meant when he said that Arthur

[Show spoiler]didn't f**k around after hearing what his favorite dish was. Are there any Korean speakers who can enlighten me? That phrase was used two times in that scene.

Overall I wasn't blown away but I did enjoy it.

[youngtiffani]

I loved the nuance of this film. I agree with others. Award season contender.

[BluBonnet]

One of the best movies playing in theaters right now. Definitely hope it gets all the award-season love it so richly deserves.

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

Saw this over the weekend. Surprised my Regal got it. I was the only one there. So I guess not many knew of this. So that's sad. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. 4.5/5

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Jennifer Lawrence Fan

Saw this over the weekend. Surprised my Regal got it. I was the only one there. So I guess not many knew of this. So that's sad. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. 4.5/5

Wow, you got a private screening of this - I'm jelly!!

[scribe1964]

I've been wanting to see this and hoping it expands, but I think the theatrical run may be just about over. The per-theater average this weekend wasn't great.

[Jennifer Lawrence Fan]

It's a type of film people say they want more of. Cause their sick of mainstream films. Mainly comicbook movies. Maybe cause its in limited release. But again I live in a small area. Or people just don't wanna read subtitles at theaters and wanna wait for home.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Jennifer Lawrence Fan

It's a type of film people say they want more of. Cause their sick of mainstream films. Mainly comicbook movies. Maybe cause its in limited release. But again I live in a small area. Or people just don't wanna read subtitles at theaters and wanna wait for home.

It's a great movie in that it is both sophisticated and also very down to Earth at the same time.

But yeah, there's definitely a lot of subtitles. And some people don't like 'em!!

[format916]

This was really good. And I was skeptical because it had a sort of cheesy start to it, but I got sucked in. Really enjoyed it.

[Namuhana]

The local arthouse theater I happen to live behind has this this week, so I'll try and see it tomorrow on my day off (which also happens to be discount day).

[ghostsofjoy]

My husband and I saw this last Thursday, when it finally started playing at our local AMC, and we were the only two in our theater.

I’ve been a fan of Greta Lee’s for years but outside of her role in The Morning Show, all of the performances of hers I’ve seen have been comedic, so it was lovely to see her tackle — and nail! — this kind of dramatic performance.

So much of this film lies in what isn’t spoken, which I absolutely loved. And after having seen this, I am not at all surprised to learn director/writer Celine Song came from a theater background ’cause this very much feels like it could have been a stage play.

[BluBonnet]

I think body language speaks volumes in this movie, way more than any other I can think of right now.

[The Great Owl]

Five stars

A young schoolgirl, Na Young, is separated from her first crush, Hae Sung, when she emigrates from South Korea to Canada with her parents. 12 years later, the former classmates, played by Greta Lee and Teo Yoo, reconnect on the internet, fondly talking to each other through video chat, only to part ways again in order to focus on their respective futures. After a dozen more years have passed, Na Young, a playwright who now goes by the name, Nora, and is happily married to an American author in New York City, finally has a face-to-face reunion with Hae Sung, who now works as an engineer and who is visiting America on vacation. In the days that follow, these two ponder the circumstances, the decisions, and the missed opportunities that have paved the way to the present.

The 2023 romantic drama, Past Lives, helmed by Celine Song as her feature-length directorial debut, has a run time of only 106 minutes, but it possesses a leisurely radiance not often experienced in the cinema of today. I have always loved films that take the time to show their characters thinking and films that allow the camera to linger on conversational nuances and body language. During the final half hour in a New York City that is lovingly depicted through the lens of cinematographer Shabier Kirchner, we the viewers have an extensive familiarity with Nora, Hae Sung, and Nora's husband, Arthur, played by John Magaro, so much so that every emotional beat reverberates, keeping us on the edge of our seats as we, like the characters, consider second chances and fanciful whims in the face of existing realities.

Past Lives, with all of its joys and melancholies alike, is a universally relatable tale for all of us who, as adults, remember connections with whom we did not pursue romance because of timing, often reflecting on those associations with a sense of “all that could have been” mourning for what might have come to fruition had we met that other person at a different point in life. Unlike the 2022 Best Picture Winner, Everything Everywhere All At Once, that presented us with multiple parallel universes to show the seemingly infinite outcomes that result from character choices along the way, this film maintains a lived-in resonance by staying grounded in just one of many possible existences, where the mere sight of a long-lost acquaintance provides happiness and comfort through closure, even amidst tearful regrets for the road not taken

During a summer movie season where audiences are inundated with spectacular explosive blockbusters, Celine Song and her cast remind us that observing and listening are still the greatest special effects of all.

[MuffinMcFluffin]

There are films that will last with you for a long time. For me, this is one of those movies. It is quite a remarkable feat for first-time writer-director Celine Song, who amazed me in her debut showing no signs of amateurish craftsmanship.

Past Lives reminded me a lot of Before Sunset in the best ways possible, and it seemed to be perfect timing for a single man in middle adulthood like myself to watch and gain a lot of introspective on. Although a simple plot, this movie is deeply layered with themes about growing up/passage of time, relationships, choices made, dreams, regrets, what-ifs, and closure. Although this is not based on any one true story, this movie feels like many people’s true story in one way or another. I felt that I was bottling up certain emotions watching it the entire time, and a moment in the third act gave me a chance to release all of them at once, at the time for the character(s) but later I realized it was also for myself.

This movie took its 102-minute runtime at a very easy pace. During a summer filled to the brim with explosions and many duds throughout, this was a breath of fresh air to see on the silver screen. Although not necessarily on the tier of masterpiece, it sure was a masterclass in storytelling and making me as an audience member feel something afterward that I won’t let go of for quite a while, and will feel the need to act on sooner than later. Believe it or not, this struck a chord with me much more than A24’s last super impressive outing Everything Everywhere All at Once, which makes me believe you can expect to see this up for Oscar contention next year.

[BluBonnet]

Celine Song on How Making ‘Past Lives’ Led Her to Fall “So Hard in Love With Filmmaking”

Celine Song’s feature directing debut Past Lives has been showered with glowing reviews and much audience love ever since it premiered at Sundance. It has been no different at the 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

“Playwright Celine Song makes a stunning move into features with this decades-spanning romantic drama,” THR‘s review summarized.

The film stars Greta Lee (Russian Doll, The Morning Show) as Nora whose family moves from South Korea to Canada, with her later moving to New York City, mirroring the moves Song has gone through in real life. The movie also stars Korean star Teo Yoo (Decision to Leave) as Hae Sung, Nora’s Korean childhood soulmate, and John Magaro (The Big Short, Carol) as her U.S. husband Arthur.

[thenexus6]

This is probably the film I am looking forward to watching the most. I'll be very lucky if it plays near me though.

[pete8139]

Originally Posted by thenexus6

This is probably the film I am looking forward to watching the most. I'll be very lucky if it plays near me though.

I drove to the AMC theater nearest to me to see this. When I asked for a ticket to the 10:45 AM showing, I was told it had been canceled; the guy selling tickets had no idea why. There was a 10:45 showing of Asteroid City, so I went to see that instead. When I came out, I confirmed with the ticket seller that there would be a showing of Past Lives at 10:20 AM on Wednesday (2 days later). He said that's what his schedule showed.

When I returned to the AMC on Wednesday, no tickets had been sold other than mine. However, just before the movie began, two other people came in. Loved the movie, but wasn't prepared for the intense emotion of the final scene. Began crying - then realized that both of the other people in the theater also were crying.

I've recommended to several people that they make an effort to see this, but it's already left a couple of the theaters where it was playing.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by pete8139

When I returned to the AMC on Wednesday, no tickets had been sold other than mine. However, just before the movie began, two other people came in. Loved the movie, but wasn't prepared for the intense emotion of the final scene. Began crying - then realized that both of the other people in the theater also were crying.

This kind of reflects my reaction as well. Glad you were able to watch it in the theater, this kind of gem really shouldn't be missed.

[spf781]

Saw the first 30 minutes last Saturday, until a fire alarm at my local AMC (All Movies Compromised) theater caused the remainder of the showing to be cancelled. I'm going to try and see the remainder this Sunday morning.