Synopsis:
Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life, in this heartrending modern romance.
What We Thought:
Greta Lee gives the first truly great performance of 2023 in Past Lives. She is fantastic and heartbreaking as she takes you on her journey through the years. I almost didn’t see the film and I’m glad I went because I can easily see this being in my top 10 of the year for a multitude of reasons.
Number one is Greta Lee. She is just brilliant in the role. A different actress plays the younger version of the character while in South Korea, but once the family leaves the country, the film is dominated by Lee’s performance. She plays a writer who reconnects with her former friend from South Korea, but soon realizes she’s spending too much time talking to him and not focusing on her career. That’s when she falls for John Magaro’s character and the film time jumps again. When her friend from South Korea comes to New York for a visit, Lee must balance being that former person along with being a married woman and wondering if her friend might be her soul mate.
If you watch closely, Lee looks at the two men differently throughout the film. When she’s first video chatting with Hae Sung while he’s in South Korea, the looks on her face are honest, filled with desire and the missing of her friend. When she’s with her husband, her looks are different especially with scenes involving both men. If you know anything about acting, especially good acting, you will be awestruck by her.
Watching the film you’ll also be shocked that this is the film directorial debut for Celine Song which she also wrote. The movie is masterfully crafted and is a beautifully honest look at love, friendship and culture. The scenes with all three people could be devastatingly awkward, but Song delivers flawless scenes. All three characters serve their purpose and it keeps you guessing on what will happen by the end. Don’t think it’s a Korean film you won’t understand, it’s a universal film about love and friendship. Studios should be beating down Song’s door for her next movie.
Past Lives completely caught me off guard. I saw it last week and I want to see it again. The brutal honesty, the hard look at love and culture, the questioning of who you were and who you are now are universal topics and highly relatable. Mix in Lee’s award worthy performance and Song’s film should be a breakthrough for her. Nothing else to say besides…
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
The Nerds Templar 