Past Lives

Beautiful and very touching movie. I loved it so much! I connected deeply with the story and characters. Excellent choice!

Na-Young and Hae Sung are inseparable childhood friends until the day Na-Young's family move to the United States. Twelve years pass and the two reconnect again over social media and begin chatting on a regular basis on video calls until Na-Young calls an end to their chats, feeling that her thoughts regarding abandoning her new American life to return to Hae Sung in South Korea are unrealistic. Twelve years later again Hae Sung visits Na-Young (now know as Nora) for a week in the United States giving the two chance to reconnect once more.Past Lives is a beautiful story about two connected souls who find themselves on different paths due to circumstance but are given the chance twice more in their lives to reconnect. At it's heart this is a love story but never does it fall into the trap of Hollywood clichés and over sentimentality. Instead we find a story about destiny, regret, restraint and cultural identity. The two leads are exceptional in their roles, the fact that this is a directorial debut is stunning because the whole thing is a beautifully shot and well told story. The tone of the film is more in line with something like Richard Linklater's Before Sunrise trilogy than any of the sweeping Hollywood love stories. A gentle story with subtle but powerful performances, focusing on what is unsaid between the two fantastic leads.

Excellent film about a first love which persists across continents. This is a universal story about a childhoodunrequited romance which stays in the minds of the two young people even though for a while they lose contact. One remains in love while the other moves on. Bittersweet. Much attention to detail and very little really happens which some might find irritating or boring, but the film is well done and the theme so universal that I found it riveting.

Is this the best film I have seen in 2023? I think so... I knew as soon as I saw the trailer in the cinema that this was one I needed to watch out for, and I wasn't at all disappointed. One of the most moving and realistic explorations of friendship, love, and the evolution of relationships over the course of a lifetime that I have ever seen. A quiet, understated production that filled me up and broke my heart at the same time. I absolutely loved it!

Great film but the Blu ray sleeve somehow ended up ripped even though it was inside of the plastic wrapping.

I was looking forward to watch this movie. I loved it very much. The actors played amazingly, the feelings the sorrows of a love which never was to be. The decisions they make to keep on going in their lives. In my opinion it is a brilliant movie. So real so touching.

Interplay between the characters is wonderful

This Korean (with english subtitles) film was recommended by a friend and did not disappoint. Beautiful cinematography, excellent acting and great soundtrack by a favourite band. My wife and I rented on Amazon Prime and we both loved it. Highly recommended.