“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine,” Rick Blaine regrettably utters with a heavy stench of whiskey on his breath. The unforgettable love triangle caught in the middle of 1942’sCasablancawas torn apart as Humphery Bogart’s Blaine and Ingrid Bergman’s Ilsa Lund negotiated their unsettled romance amidst the clamor of World War II. The illustrious film captured the hearts of Oscar voters as it went on to win Outstanding Motion Picture (the predecessor tothe Best Picture Award) and continues to stun audiences today.
Over eighty years later, another love triangle spanning continents is capturing the hearts of moviegoers with its memorable quotes and tear-jerking performances. But this film is markedly different from the Bogart-led war drama.
Past Lives, the directorial debut from playwright Celine Song, is an immigration story that depicts a young Korean woman as she unbinds herself from the yanking and pulling of past and present.
In a quasi-autobiographical account of Song’s own love triangle situationship,Past Livesexplores those relationships in our lives that never get that Hollywood happy ending. Similar toMoonlight’s trilogy of childhood, young adulthood, and adulthood, this film is broken up into thirds as Nora Moon, played by Greta Lee, juggles between her current white American husband Arthur, played by John Magaro, and her childhood sweetheart Hae Sung, played by Teo Yoo.
After a successful release at Sundance at the beginning of this year, this A24 and CJ ENM-produced indie gem has been quietly building a cult following. Hoping to follow in the footsteps of A24’sEverything Everywhere All At Onceof yesteryear andCasablancaof days past,Past Liveswill indeed embark on a fruitful Oscar run when they start rolling out the red carpet.
Update July 12, 2025: FollowingPast Lives’recent nominations at the Critics' Association and the Golden Globes, this article has been updated with more information about the film’s potential chances at the Academy Awards.
Past Lives
A Personal Touch
“You dream in a language I don’t understand,” Arthur murmurs vulnerably between pillow covers and bedsheets. Nora brushes this off as a joke, but this quote expresses a deeper message of identity and romantic love. This yearning for connection, both from Arthur and Hae Sung, reflects a metaphorical mediation on missing one’s home country while willfully attempting to reside in a new one.Past Lives, for better or for worse, is a story fossilized in the amber of nostalgia.
From touching lines of dialogue to clever use of period-accurate technology,Past Livesinvokes the spirit of the past by constructing a world reminiscent of the glory days. Audience members latch onto the film’s use of Skype and its depiction of long-distance relationships over the internet, a love story Bogart and Bergman could never fathom.Adrian Horton from the Guardianwrites, “Song conveys the cherished accumulation of their calls and messages, which recalled for me the many, many hours I used to spend on Skype.”
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The extremely personal signatures that Song imbues within the film inspire tears, giggles, and contemplative moments of rumination during and after viewing this movie. The story is undoubtedly universal and is delicately written and crafted into a beautiful etching ofa modern American romance.
A Genuine Story
Love triangles usually leave a bitter taste when thinking about movies that feature them since, most of the time, there is some sort of heart-breaking drama at the center of it. Secrets and cheating are used as an entertaining factor, but they are possibly creating discomfort and fear among some viewers. It has become an all too common depiction of relationships gone wrong, leaving little space for open and genuine communication.
Unlike many other films, which make use of the common theme of broken relationships and cheating,Past Livestakes a different, arguably more refreshing approach. It manages to capture genuine feelings amid a relationship crisis, ensuring todocument the very real struggles of confusing, romantic feelingsand the moral battle of not wanting to cause pain. The three main characters are shown in a relatable way, each tending to their needs in their own way while still being considerate of the feelings of those involved.
Open communication and a shared understanding of each other’s struggles are at the center of the story. Even though neither of the three characters necessarily knows what the right thing to do is, it becomes clear right away that they are genuinely trying their best to create transparency and show empathy.
The love story coming to life inPast Livesis different from what the majority of film lovers might be used to. Unlike some expectations, it doesn’t fall into the category of being corny or simply bland. Nora, Hae Sung, and Arthur’s story is much rather the foundation of a feel-good movie, despite the hardships the three of them face, because it finally gives space to what human interaction surrounding romantic feelings as well as uncertainties should look like. It turns a difficult situation into a wonderful opportunity to further develop communication skills and highlight the beauty of transparency, even if it seems scary at first.
A Technical Masterpiece
Despite this being Song’s first-ever attempt at directing a feature film, there is evidence of a wise, restrained filmmaker within the framework ofPast Lives. Every aspect of the filmmaking process has intentional punctuation within the story and exemplifies Song’s intuitive relationship with the creative medium.
Many celebrate the complex performances from Lee, Magaro, and Yoo, who all dance along a range of emotions such as intimacy, ambition, guardedness, and jealousy. They all boast award-worthy showings, with Greta Lee especially shining as a potential Best Actress candidate. This can easily be attributed to Song’s exquisite screenwriting and instinctive directing style, both of which echo her experience working in theater.
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These performances would nearly amount to nothing if not for the gorgeous photography and thoughtful editing employed by Song and the team. The slow, drawn-out pacing and contemplative long takes signal a director who is comfortable in their craft and mature beyond their filmmaking years. The dedicated utilization of longer lenses provides a distinct visual aesthetic reminiscent ofclassic New York filmmakerssuch as John Cassavetes and new editions like the Safdie Brothers.
And this visual style lends itself to the magical realism of nostalgic verisimilitude. During certain quiet moments, while floating away on a zoom lens, the camera always appears to be recording at just the right moment. Though seemingly random and somewhat serendipitous, the camera captures a series of magical moments, such as a warm sunset beaming off a reflective skyscraper or a long-awaited taxi dismount disrupted by a torrential downpour.
These moments of coincidence are consistent with the ways the filmmakers design the film.According to Sarah Shachat from Indiewire, during the monumental Skype calls, “[Song] had the two rooms connected by a wire [while] controlling how shitty the connection was and when it would freeze.” The themes of randomness and coincidence speak to the film’s overarching message of inyun, the Korean interpretation of fate and destiny, where a series of seemingly random events coalesce to a greater significance.
Oscar Chances
Like the romance films of the past and the immigration genre pieces of today,Past Livesseems poised to position itself for a lengthy Oscar run. With stellar performances and a contemplative approach from writer-director Celine Song, this indie darling is sure to surprise this awards season. The film was named one of the top ten films of 2023 by the National Board of Review. The American Film Institute named it one of the Top 10 Films of 2023. The movie landed a Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay nomination at the Critic’s Choice Awards. It also scored a Best Picture - Drama nomination at the Golden Globes.
With all of these factors, it is likely now a strong play for the Oscars. Now the question is, what are the film’s chances? While no official nominees have been announced, films likeOppenheimer,Barbie, andKillers of the Flower Moonare expected to be big players. Star Greta Lee has a chance of scoring a Best Actress nomination, but the frontrunner for months has been Lily Gladstone inKillers of the Flower Moon. Meanwhile, there is a strong chance that Greta Lee could score nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.
Past Livesis a must-watch for anyone who has ever thought about the complexity of love, certainly standing out with its personal touch, its genuine story, and its technical excellence.
Past Livesis available for rental or purchase on PVOD.
Want to learn Lives? Watch our ending explained video to discover more about the film’s hidden meanings.
