Past Lives (2023)

Past Lives is an intimate, character-driven drama about Nora and Hae Sung, childhood friends torn apart when Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Two decades later, circumstances bring them back together for a single week, forcing both to reckon with the life they chose, the lives they might have had, and the quiet weight of longing that never quite faded. The film follows their conversations and small, meaningful moments as they navigate language, culture, marriage and the fragile, persistent question of destiny. Watching Past Lives is a slow-burn, emotionally precise experience: restrained direction, naturalistic performances and detailed, everyday scenes build a growing sense of bittersweet nostalgia. You’ll feel the tenderness of their connection, the ache of missed possibilities, and the complex warmth and loyalty that can coexist with unresolved desire. The movie favors quiet observation over melodrama, inviting reflection rather than offering tidy answers. If you enjoy thoughtful romances and slice-of-life dramas that probe identity, fate and the decisions that define us, Past Lives delivers a moving, elegiac experience—subtle, affecting, and likely to stay with you long after the credits.

Actors: Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro

Director: Celine Song

Genre: Drama

94 /100 7.8 /10 8.6 /10