The Enigmatic Charm of “Past Lives”
“Past Lives” is a captivating film that intricately blends themes of distance, time, and destiny to create a rich narrative of human connections. In this post, I’ll try to put forth a few points regarding how the film employs both visual and narrative elements to weave a story as complex as it is stunning.
The opening scene of the movie sets the stage for what this movie is going to be about. It features a couple attempting to deduce the nature of the relationship among the three main characters, but their discussion ends without any clear resolution. Usually, identifying a couple is straightforward, yet despite several minutes of observation, their relationship remains ambiguous. As their conversation progresses, their speculations become increasingly random.
Notice how Nora sits nearer to Arthur, yet her bond appears stronger with Hae Sung. As the scene unfolds later in the movie, it becomes evident that her connection with Hae Sung is deeper. They engage in conversation in their native language and share a profound cultural heritage, revealing an unspoken love between them.
From the very beginning, ‘Past Lives’ hints at the theme of distance. The title itself, coupled with the deliberate spatial separation in the credits, foreshadows a story about the spaces between people. The film speaks to the audience in a visual language. The background elements, including the stairs, paths, and lines, are metaphors for the separation between the characters' journeys throughout the film.
A standout moment in the movie occurs when Nora and Hae Sung say goodbye at the age of 12. This scene foreshadows their future paths. Nora’s ascent up the stairs symbolizes her ambitious journey through life, choosing a path less taken, driven by her quest for achievement and success. In contrast, Hae Sung’s journey, while also moving upward, follows a gentler trajectory. He opts for a more conventional route, enlisting in the military and adopting a “go with the flow” attitude.
In multiple scenes, the director even uses lines created by trees, tiles, or other surroundings to position one character on the left while the other on the right, visually dividing them. It’s almost as if nature itself is intent on keeping them apart.
Often, the lighting and colors of a scene go unnoticed by viewers. Observe how, when one character is in light, the environments of the other characters are shrouded in darkness. Yet, in the “video call break up” scene, darkness covers both sides, creating a shared atmosphere of gloom.
There was also an interesting detail to notice in the film: the usage of number 12. Nora waves goodbye to her country at 12, catches up with Hae Sung 12 years after (making her 24), and they get their long-awaited in-person reunion when she hits 36. This little number game underlines how big a role time plays in their story. The ages 12, 24, and 36 aren’t just random; they mark major chapters in their lives, showing us how they grow and change. It’s a neat way to remind us how time keeps moving and shapes our relationships along the way.
The movie also focuses on the idea of “In-yun,” which suggests some people are meant to cross paths with each other because of an invisible bond that connects them, no matter the time or place. It’s a force that brings people together in ways that are hard to explain. It’s like an invisible string tied between them, showing how deeply connected they are, even if they don’t realize it.
The theme comes to life not only through Nora and Hae Sung’s discussions about their destinies but also when the two male characters explore their own connection through the concept of In-yun, revealing how they, too, are bound by this invisible thread of fate.
At the end of the film, when it is time for Hae Sung to leave New York, he bids farewell by cleverly saying, “see you then,” implying this might be the last time they would meet in their current life. And ”then” hints at a future meeting in another life, anchored by their bond through In-yun.
As Nora breaks down in tears at the film’s conclusion, it feels like an anticipated moment, but it’s hard to say exactly why she’s crying. It seems like she cries for two main reasons. First, she’s saying goodbye to her childhood love and believes they won’t meet each other in this life. Secondly, as an immigrant, the sense of separation from her roots and family likely weighs heavily on her. The period Hae Sung spends in New York represents a rare connection to her culture, where she engages deeply with her Korean identity, speaking the language and reminiscing about Korea. Hence, Hae Sung’s departure triggers more than just personal loss; it symbolizes a severance from a cultural closeness she has long missed.
The film’s conclusion brings a sense of closure not just to Nora and Hae Sung’s tale but also to Arthur’s, as he finally comes to grasp Nora’s perspective. Additionally, the ending gently nods to Nora’s childhood, recalling a time when she was known for being tearful.
