The Deets
Rating: PG-13 (Some Strong Language)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Original Language: English
Director: Celine Song
Producer: David Hinojosa, Christine Vachon, Pamela Koffler
Writer: Celine Song
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 2, 2023 Limited
Runtime: 1h 46m
Distributor: A24
Production Co: Killer Films, CJ ENM Co.
The Story
What happens when someone important from your past reappears? This movie explores the Korean concept of “in-yun,” which means that if you meet someone, even briefly, it means you also met in a past life. It means that person is important to your story, in the past, in the present, and in the future, somehow, some way.
Years ago in South Korea, 12-year-old Nora is close friends with a boy in her class named Hae Sung. They both like each other and go on a date. Shortly after, their lives are ripped apart when Nora’s family immigrates to Canada. When Nora is 24 and living in New York City, she reconnects with Hae Sung online. He’s now an engineering student in Seoul, and he has never stopped thinking about her.
Their timing just isn’t right, and another 12 years pass before they are able to meet, this time in person. They know that their time together is limited: Hae Sung has to return to Seoul, and Nora has to stay in Toronto. Not to mention that Nora is happily married.
Past Lives is a beautiful and moving film about love, loss, and the ties that bind us. It is a film that will stay with you long after you have seen it.
The Cast
Greta Lee as Nora
Seung Ah Moon as young Nora
Teo Yoo as Hae Sung
Seung Min Yim as young Hae Sung
John Magaro as Arthur
Ji Hye Yoon as Nora’s mom
Choi Won-young as Nora’s dad
Min Young Ahn as Hae Sung’s mom
Jonica T. Gibbs as Janice
Emily Cass McDonnell as Rachel
Federico Rodriguez as Robert
Conrad Schott as Peter
Kristen Sieh as Heather