The APAHM Project Day 9: Past Lives
- Lauren
- May 9
- 7 min read
Film: Past Lives
Directed By: Celine Song
Release: 2023
Where to Watch: Tubi
Why It Made The List:
Written and directed by Celine Song, The Materialists is a modern-day love story. But if you are expecting a happy ending, you might want to look elsewhere. Song's directorial debut delivers an authentic, realistic, and bittersweet story about childhood sweethearts whose fates were to meet each other and be bonded. But time and distance separates the two. Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay in 2024, Past Lives has become an instant classic for those who love a slow burn.
My Thoughts:
If you have never seen Past Lives, please stop reading and go watch it now! I absolutely love this film and always take something new away with each re-watch. Past Lives centers around Nora (born Na Young) and Hae Sung, childhood sweethearts when they went to school together in Seoul, South Korea. After a first and only date, Na Young emigrates and her family goes to Canada. Her mother states that if "you leave something behind, you gain something too." This is such a succinct way to justify immigrating. Nora's father and mother both had successful careers in Seoul. Na Young was on track to be a top student. But her parents knew their daughters would have more opportunities in the West (Na Young tells her classmates that Koreans do not with the Nobel Prize in Literature as her reason for leaving).
My grandfather was a skilled electrician and left his career and the life he knew in Hong Kong. But it's not losing something to get something in return or letting go to get gains. It is "leave something," which means that it is still there waiting for you. My grandfather took a solo trip to China and Hong Kong in his late 60s and I don't remember much, but I do remember how happy he looked in his photos. Which is rare, because he never smiled for photos. It just goes to show you can take the man out of Asia, but not the Asia out of the man. For Na Young, she wouldn't realize she left anything behind in Seoul until 20 years later.
Ten years later, Na Young, now Nora, is studying in New York as a writing student. Her mother and her look up old friends from Korea on Facebook and decide to look up Hae Sung. Hae Sung posted on her father's film production's Facebook page looking for Nora. She messages him and the two of them exchange messages, emails, and video chats. After some time, Hae Sung and Nora accept that neither one of them are in a place to close the physical distance between them. Nora suggests they don't talk for a while and Hae Sung notes that it wasn't like they were boyfriend and girlfriend. Nora goes upstate to her artist residency and Hae Sung goes to China to study Mandarin. They both end up meeting romantic interests there as Nora narrates how the Korean believe in "In Yun" or fate as it pertains to people. That even if strangers brush shoulders, it is possible that they have thousands of layers of In Yun that brought them together in that moment. Arthur, Nora's romantic interest, asks if she believes in that, and Nora jokes that Koreans just say it to seduce people.
12 years pass and Nora and Arthur are now married, while Hae Sung and his girlfriend from China have broken up. Arthur has learned some Korean phrases and enjoys Korean food. He feels somewhat intimidated that Hae Sung is coming to visit New York, and is convinced he is actually coming to see Nora. Hae Sung and Nora reunite and are at a loss for words. After a day of sightseeing, Nora comes home to confirm that Arthur was right. She also says Hae Sung is "so Korean" for having his stable job and living with his parents in his 30s. Comparatively, Nora says she feels so not Korean. Their differences highlight that Nora has truly assimilated to the Western culture, even if she never rejected her Korean roots and upbringing. When Arthur talks to her in Korean, she responds in English. However, Nora also points out that with Hae Sung, she feels even more Korean. I feel as if this is because you feel a sense of community and belonging without having to explain yourself. When I hang out with my Asian friends, I don't feel more or less Asian, but of unspoken comfort that they understand quirks, complaints, or things that get you excited.
All of this gets into Arthur's head and he asks Nora if this is the life she and her family dreamed about having. He then tells Nora that she speaks Korean in her sleep. She dreams in a language he doesn't understand and there's a "whole place inside of you where I can't go." To Arthur, it's not really because he's Jewish or even that he is jealous of Hae Sung himself, but he is jealous of Nora and Hae Sung's shared connection that he will never have with Nora. Hae Sung also knows Nora before she immigated, and is one of the few people who know how she was back then. Arthur's love for Nora is so strong that he wishes to know everything about her; wishes they met sooner.
The next day, Hae Sung and Nora go on a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. Hae Sung brings Nora a snack, remembering that she used to skip meals while Skyping with him. 12 years ago, Nora said she no longer wants a Nobel Prize, but a Pulitzer. In the present, Hae Sung asks what award Nora would like to win now. She admits she hasn't thought about it in a long time and answers she would want a Tony. While Arthur knows and loves the version of Nora he met in his 20s. Hae Sung is in love with Na Young. He is in love with a memory that reminds him of a happier time and his childhood and innocence. As the ferry begins to turn around, Hae Sung notes that the Statue of Liberty has her back turned to them. America herself is reminding Hae Sung that he is merely a visitor in her and Nora's life.
In the script, when Arthur meets Hae Sung, he notices he and and Nora have the same skin color. They are both born and partially raised in the same place. But Arthur relaxes. He knows now that Hae Sung is simply an important person from Nora's past. The three of them go for drinks and Nora and Hae Sung converse in Korean and Arthur is on his phone. Although he is excluded, Nora assures him they are saying nice things about him. Hae Sung admits it hurts to like Arthur. He continues that he knows why Nora had to leave Seoul. She is the kind of person who leaves and he likes her for her. But fo Arthur, she is the kind of person who stays (ugh, all the feels!) Nora tells Hae Sung that the Na Young he knew does not exist in New York, and that she left her with him (this reflects what her mother says in the beginning about immigrating.) She continues that in this life, they do not have the In Yun to be that to each other, even after finally being in the same place physically after all those years. Nora goes to the restroom and Hae Sung apologizes for excluding Arthur from the conversation. Arthur is more than understanding and the two of them believe they have In Yun too.
They return to Nora and Arthur's and Nora walks Hae Sung to wait for his Uber. Arthur and Hae Sung say goodbye and Nora and Hae Sung stand on the side of the street together in silence. The Uber comes and they say their goodbyes, but before he gets in the car, Hae Sung tells Nora what if this is also a past life, and they already mean something to each other in the next one. It's a wonderful thought to have. Nora walks back to the apartment and sobs into Arthur's arms. Seeing Hae Sung has healed something in her, but she also mourns for the life she could have had if her family had stayed in Korea. Hae Sung drives off as the sun rises, having let go to be able to move forward.
In Conclusion:
Past Lives could be seen as a "boring" or "slow" movie, but to me, it's so heartbreakingly beautiful that you couln't ever see it as mundane. The fact of the matter is, life and love don't always turn out the way you plan. While it may be obvious that Hae Sung and Nora are perfect for each other to all the romantics, not all of us are lucky to have a childhood sweetheart. And it's not as exciting or romantic or cinematic to meet at work or at a residency, but for a lot of people, that is the realistic beginning to their love story. Nora and Arthur meeting is just as fateful as Hae Sung and Na Young meeting. If Nora hadn't suggested they stop talking, her mind and heart would not be open to Arthur that night. I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason. And while we may not know the bigger picture, you never know where the path may take you in the future. It might lead you to the very thing you've been searching for all along.
Shout Out!
Today's shoutout goes to The Woobles! If you have been to a craft store, Barnes & Noble, etc. you have probably noticed these cute little crochet kits! Started by Justine, The Woobles kits have everything you need to crochet a cute little plush. However, Justine claims on her site that Woobles is not so much about crocheting as it is about completing a goal. Being able to learn a new skill from start to finish is no small feat, and The Woobles helps customers achieve that. With its success, The Woobles is now in major retailers everywhere and have done collaborations with popular franchises such as Harry Potter, Sanrio, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and The Peanuts. Check them out for your next stocking stuffer or craft girls' night!
If You Liked This, You Might Also Like:
Materialists
In The Mood For Love
Always Be My Maybe
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