In-yun, a concept that inspires the story of Past Lives, is my fourth pick for the series of Weekend Movies. In-yun is this beautiful Korean notion that basically says that any meaningful connection between two people isn’t just some random occurrence. No, it’s like there’s this cosmic thread that’s been weaving your lives together, maybe for lifetimes.
Picture this: every time you cross paths with someone, even if it’s just a brief encounter, it’s because you’ve shared some connection in the past. Maybe in another life, you were lovers, or friends, or maybe you just shared a moment in passing. But that connection, no matter how small, builds this bond, and if it’s strong enough, it brings you together again in this life.
So, when you’re watching Past Lives, a directorial debut of Celine Song, and they talk about In-Yun, it’s not just some throwaway idea. It’s the very fabric of their love story.
It’s a romantic idea, right? That all these little moments, all these connections we make, might be part of something much bigger, something that transcends time and space. It makes you think about your own life, about the people you’ve met, and wonder—what if we’ve done this all before? What if we’re just playing out the echoes of our past lives?
Past Lives is like stepping into one of those beautiful romantic movies with sweeping love stories that Jane Austen or Julia Quinn would write, so elegant, so full of emotion, yet so grounded in reality that you can’t help but feel every beat of it in your bones.
The movie takes you on this journey through time and space, exploring love in its purest and most complicated forms. You’ve got this childhood connection between Nora and Hae Sung that feels almost otherworldly, like it was written in the stars, but then life happens, and suddenly, they’re oceans apart.
I mean, how often do we think about those what-ifs from our past? That person we met when we were young and impressionable, who somehow marked us, whether we knew it or not. Past Lives just takes that idea and turns it into this breathtaking narrative that feels both intimate and epic. It’s not just about two people; it’s about the memories that shape us, the roads not taken, and the love that lingers in the corners of our minds.
What really hit me was the way the movie handles the love triangle. It’s not the usual drama-filled, jealousy-ridden mess we often see. No, this is something else entirely—beautiful, tender, and heartbreakingly honest.
You see, Nora has this life now, one that she’s built with her husband, and you can tell they love each other deeply. But then Hae Sung comes back into the picture, and it’s like all those childhood feelings just rush back in, and suddenly, you’re questioning everything.
But here’s the thing: the movie doesn’t villainize anyone and that is what makes it one of the best Korean movies. It’s not about choosing one person over the other; it’s about understanding that love can exist in many forms, and sometimes, it’s just about timing. There’s this scene—I swear, it almost broke me—where you see the three of them together, and you just feel this wave of emotion. It’s love in all its messy, beautiful glory, and you’re left wondering how something so simple can be so complicated.
And the way it’s shot, oh man, it’s like every frame is a painting. The cinematography captures the essence of the story so perfectly. The cityscapes, the quiet moments, the fleeting glances—they all add to this sense of longing that runs throughout the film. It’s like you’re there with them, feeling everything they’re feeling.
By the time the credits rolled, I was just sitting there, staring at the screen, trying to process it all. Past Lives isn’t just a movie; it’s an experience, a reminder of how love can shape us, define us, and sometimes, just stay with us, even if it’s not meant to be.
So yeah, if you’re in the mood to feel something real, something that sticks with you long after the credits are rolled, give Past Lives a watch.
Just be prepared—it might just stir up some of your own past lives too.
Now, before you leave, check out my previous recommendations and bookmark CineCinnati for regular updates on new releases!
