Written and Directed by Celine Song
Starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro

“Because Korean’s don’t win the Nobel Prize for Literature”

This is the reason given by a young girl to her male childhood sweetheart for her family’s decision to emigrating from South Korea to Canada.

To this day, that statement proves itself to be true, with the only Korean ever winning a Nobel Prize being former President Kim Dae-jung, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the year 2000. 

Thankfully though, Korean’s do win Academy Awards, with 2019s Parasite becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture. Word of mouth and my view has it that the superior romantic drama Past Lives may very well be the next to accomplish just that.

A semi-autobiographical writing and directing feature film debut by New York theatre playwright Celine Song, writer of the first season of Amazon’s “Wheel of Time”, Past Lives is mostly set in New York 12 years after Nora first emigrated to Toronto. An independent and ambitious playwright, Nora (Greta Lee) reconnects virtually with Jung Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), a student engineer still living in Seoul who deeply misses his childhood crush and remains extremely fond of Nora. Though their early interactions feel like they are seamlessly picking up where they left off all those years ago, their realities soon confront them. Despite clearly still sharing a special bond, the decisions and commitments they’ve made in their respective lives since, coupled with the extra long-distance that separates them, causes certain conundrums that rewrites what was once ostensibly their given fate. 

Whoa! 

An enthusiastically made comment that is repeated during Nora and Hae Sung’s interactions, which also happens to echo my sentiments of the flawlessness of this relatable, intimate, and incredible film. 

Like many movies, Past Lives is written to a high standard that enables its dialogue and story trajectory to strongly involve its audience in its characters journeys from start to end. But unlike many movies, it’s what Past Lives conveys without words and empowers its viewers to perceive without assumption that makes it so impressive and powerful. All the more when you remember this is from someone who has never written and/or directed any film before! Both the directing and writing are simply outstanding, but especially the writing. Classily yet not cryptically restrained, exhibiting perfect precision, and utterly rewarding in what can be read between the lines. Whoa indeed! Though these compliments apply to the film in its entirety, they elevate during the stunning and unforgettable third and final act of the film. I must also mention just how much I found myself embracing the realness and honesty of these characters. They lead by example the importance and value in first being honest with ourselves, then with others. 

Past Lives is a present masterpiece and a future romance classic that should not be missed.

Past Lives is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from August 31st.

Moviedoc thanks Studiocanal and Annette Smith: Ned & Co for the invite to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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