Celine Song’s “Past Lives” is structured like a romance, but more than that, it’s an extended meditation on growing up, changing ambitions, links to the past, cultural diaspora, and a constant mourning/celebration of the person you used to be as well as the person you have become. Greta Lee plays Na Young, a woman who moved to the United States from Korea when she was about 12. She changed her name to Nora upon immigrating. She also sharply recalls a close friend she had as a child, a boy named Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), who might have been a romantic boyfriend; dating at age 12 is a little unclear.
A portion of “Past Lives” takes place 12 years later as the now-24-year-old characters have found new paths. The two reconnect on Facebook and begin having increasingly intimate video calls. There is clearly a romance-like affection between the two, but each of them is on a different path. Nora begins to wonder how American she is and how Korean she is. 12 years after that, the 36-year-old characters come into contact again, more mature, and more sure of who they are … and still connected in ways they can only now begin to describe.
“Past Lives” is warm, humane, intimate, and understands what it’s like to grow up. 12, 14, and 36 are all very different ages, and how we approach the world changes. We may feel a connection to our past, but that sometimes leaves us feeling disconnected from the present and the journey we’ve been on. “Past Lives” deftly talks about identity, love, and the practical applications of both in a vocationally-driven world. It’s human and glorious. (Witney Seibold)