The most powerful and affecting love stories come from those with lived experience. And what we get from Celine Song’s directorial debut is a masterclass in love storytelling. It’s a story told from her first hand experience as a Korean immigrant. At first glance, a story about “a married woman who reunites with a close childhood friend decades later” has disaster written all over it. Maybe you expect a drama filled affair, or a comedic love triangle, but thankfully what we get is a nuanced story of three people who show love in their own ways.

Past Lives tells the story of Nora, played by the amazing Greta Lee, who moves from Korea to Canada at a young age. Her path takes her to the United States where she eventually becomes a playwright in New York City and marries a writer, Arthur. After reconnecting with a childhood sweetheart, Hae Sung, Nora wrestles with the idea of what her life might have been like had she stayed in Korea.

The film opens with three people sitting together at a bar. Unknown onlookers are chatting, trying to guess how the three are connected. If you would have gone into the movie not knowing what it was about, or hadn’t seen any trailers, then you might not know that these are our three main characters. Who are those people? Are they all old friends? Coworkers? Are they in a love triangle (which really might just be a couple with a third wheel)? We are given an answer in convincing fashion over the next beautiful hour and a half.

Our story is told in three time periods. Nora and Hae Sung as children in Korea, twelve years later when Nora is finding her way in the world, and present day. After Nora leaves Korea, she finds Hae Sung online and the two reconnect virtually. While she feels a strong connection to Hae Sung, she realizes it might not be an easy relationship to maintain. Does she actually miss her child love? Or is it her life in Korea that she misses? The childlike, yet sophisticated chats they have over Skype don’t give us a definitive answer, because not even Nora knows.

In present day New York City, Nora and Arthur are not only coexisting as two intellectuals in a city full of them, but they are in love with each other. This important complexity is showcased perfectly by Greta Lee and John Magaro. It might seem silly that two people coexisting and deeply loving each other seems complex, but in the form of a movie, it’s rare. 

One of the most powerful ways to show love is to give the other person the space and respect they deserve. Lee and Magaro brilliantly bring this exact dynamic to life on screen. Nora and Arthur’s love and respect for each other is put to the test when Hae Song comes to visit Nora in the United States.

When the story of Nora, Hae Sung, and Arthur is over, we better understand those three characters that were sitting at the bar. We understand them more than any of those onlookers do. And it’s all thanks to Song’s beautifully written screenplay and stunning direction. Greta Lee, John Margaro, and Teo Yoo also bring outstandingly nuanced and subtle performances to the film. We’re completely enveloped in their world, and as simple as the story may seem, it’s a world we don’t want to leave.

Celine Song’s Past Lives is a powerful debut that is executed as well as, if not better, than something you see from the likes of a veteran filmmaker. When 2023 is over, Past Lives will undoubtedly be one of the year’s best offerings. And you’ll be hard pressed to find a more compelling love story.

9.6/10

Written by: Stefano Todaro