Check out our full uncut reaction and watch along with your own copy on: - Patreon (www.patreon.com/posts/past-lives-2023-96613953?Link&) - RUclips Memberships (ruclips.net/video/JoUDlWBdMww/видео.html)
Little fun note: Celine Song, the director, didn't let the two main leads touch AT ALL until that hug in the park when they were filming! So the chemistry in that scene is so palpable, especially for Hae Sung, since physical touch like hugs is extremely uncommon unless you're close friends/family/lovers in Korean culture. That said, I see Past Lives as less of a traditional love story and more of an immigrant story. How I interpret Nora and Hae Sung's last scene together is Nora finally allowing herself to grieve what her life could have been in Korea, and Hae Sung is wrapped up in that along with her own complicated love for him. He's the physical representation of her old life in Korea and what that could've been, not even just romantically. Living in NA has hardened her into the person she's become (she doesn't cry anymore) and she had to leave behind her 12 year old self to become that person. The ending, to me, is her returning to her 12 year old self and letting her cry, letting her mourn what could have been. And also returning to Arthur and choosing what he is to her in this life. Hae Sung gets closure too, and he's able to let rest what could have been with Nora instead of letting her be that question mark at the back of his mind for the rest of his life.
To me, Hae Sung represents the life Nora never got to experience, her Korean roots. Moving from her country at such young age there's a version of her that got stuck and whenever Hae Sung is around is an accoumulation of "what ifs" no only in the romantic sense but also with her identity, her childhood. Andrew mentions that she dreams in Korean so I feel like she's stuck between two worlds and if you're an immigrant I think this hits harder. There's so many bridges you have to burn to get where you are now and Nora' burns the last and the strongest one at the end. Great reaction guys!.
Idk, when I watched this movie I felt it was really obvious that Na-young / Nora would stay with Arthur. Like you guys said, what her and Haesung have is really special but the way I’d describe her relationship with Arthur is REAL. She is someone who leaves supposedly but that’s because Haesung just wasn’t her person to stay for. She had to break up with him initially because of that or at least that’s the way I interpreted it. She very well could’ve easily moved back to Seoul but that’s the very opposite of what she wanted even as a child. He would make her world smaller. Even if she probably could’ve been happy with him too. She’s my new favourite character in any kind of media haha. I love this movie sm! Haesung and Arthur are also great characters. I wish I could watch it for the first time all over again.
Love this breakdown. For me, it's what you mentioned at the end -- he would make Nora's world smaller. Such a kind soul, and there's so much love. But even then; same friends talking about the same stuff, hanging out at the same spots. Nothing wrong with it -- just smaller. I really do wonder what happens after this though. That's such a complex emotion to work through as a couple. The way Arthur described their relationship felt like it was all so circumstantial and convenient. And Nora didn't do much to make us feel otherwise. Nonetheless -- amazing film. I'm with you. I wish I could experience it for the first time again, as well!
@@PhilipManzano I think the way Arthur described it was heavily coloured by the fact that Haesung suddenly became a real person rather than just a memory and he was struggling with that. I don’t mean to say this is what you guys were feeling but I think a lot of the scenes in this movie subvert the typical scenes we’re used to when it comes to romance, especially gender roles and it’s hard to remove yourself from that. It isn’t typical for the female character to be one who isn’t as affectionate or reassuring but that’s exactly why she’s my favourite character haha. Nora seems to have grown reserved with her emotions for the sake of ‘making it’ and Arthur would know that about her. Her saying ‘you know me’ and reminding him that she loves him was all she could say. There’s no flair or dramatics to it in your typical romance movie fashion but it probably was enough for him because it’s true, he knows that she’s not an idealist and she wouldn’t do anything on a whim. Hence, giving up on Haesung in the first place. Adding on, I think in real life, convenient is good. Convenient means comfortable and easy. They also are lucky to share the same passion as a couple. Arthur loves her and she loves him in turn because she chooses to nurture what she has with him in the end rather than chase after a fairytale. Their love may be dull compared to ‘what could’ve been’ but it’s still beautiful. I was going to use the word ‘mature’ or ‘adult’ to describe their love and just had the thought that that would be a nice parallel of Nora and Haesung being ‘babies’ when they loved eachother. It’s so good! Oh and the detail of her supposedly not crying anymore but crying in Arthur’s arms. I LOVE THEM 🥲🥲
@@PhilipManzano - I think your wife, Erika, nailed it. Hae Sung and Nora are "soulmates" and that's not something we can say about Nora and Arthur. There are bits of the film where Arthur doesn't know things about Nora (her childhood) nor it seems they do things together (take a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty); we also don't see evidence of passion between Nora and Arthur. Arthru's feelings of inadequacy are real and Nora doesn't really do much to soothe them, at least in the way that he needs to hear. The ending scene is so heartfelt because, as Erika mentioned in the reaction, Nora is putting closure to that part of her life and seems resigned to spend her life with Arthur... I felt a bit of regret from Nora there. It's a complex mix of feelings and what makes it more compelling is that all characters are seemingly good people.
Such a beautiful movie and so much to unfold. I agree, the emotional connection is so much harder to compite with. Love doesn’t have to be physical. The end is so heartbreaking I was okay for the most of the movie and at the end I started sobbing with her!! Masterpiece
איזה מקסימים אתם, היה ממש כיף לצפות בסרט בפעם השנייה, בחברתכם. אני מאוד אוהב סרטים עצובים אבל הסרט הזה היה עצוב מידי, לא הצלחתי להשתחרר ממחשבות על הסרט במשך מספר ימים. סרט מדהים. לדעתי, האהבה שלהם לא יכולה היתה להתממש בגלל שכל אחד היה מחובר חזק מידי לעולם הגיאוגרפי ולמנטליות שלו, הוא בקוריאה והיא באמריקה. הסרט הזה הוא ללא ספק יצירת מופת, והריאקשן שלכם היה רגיש, נעים, חכם, מעניין וכייפי 😊
Why this is the perfect love story and my absolute favorite film of 2023. Btw, I enjoy "rewatching" films and TV shows with you two. Our sensibilities are very similar. As we well know, love is complicated, and there are different types. The love Nora felt for Hae Sung was very different than the love she felt/feels for Arthur. The connection with Hae Sung came from the heart, as did his with her. This is why she cried at the end. Her heart was broken knowing the love they shared could never be realized. As Hae Sung said in the park, he's an only child and he feels very ordinary. He could never come to NYC and be the kind of man to Nora that he feels he would need to be. At the same time, he said that Nora was always too big for Korea, so he knew she would never return and settle for a simple "ordinary" life. This was the impasse they both knew could not be overcome. Their final goodbye, that impossibly long pause, was shattering. On the other hand, Arthur is the comfortable reliable love Nora knew would allow her to be the person she wanted to be (in real life an amazing playwright and 1st time director!). Arthur could sense this was her dilemma and knew that his only chance to keep her was to let them realize it. I completely agree with you that he knew a lot more Korean than he let on and understood what they were talking about at the bar. It must have been equally heartbreaking for him to know that she didn't feel the same kind of love for him that she did for Hae Sung. This is a story that hit close to home, as I went through a very similar situation. In my case though, I ended 12 years of comfortable marriage to pursue my heart's desire, only to end up single and alone after 3 crazy years. Lol I can't wait to see what Celine conjures up next, and it's a shame she's not up for Best Director and Greta Lee for Best Actress. Her performance was nothing short of perfection. The scene in the park when they met after 24 years was simply breathtaking.
Thank you for this thoughtful comment! Really loved reading through your insights. And I really appreciate the honesty and vulnerability to share 🙏 I agree with everything! And it’s such a shame that it didn’t get more Academy love. Celine will be a powerhouse in the industry. Greta was magnificent. This was one of the most beautiful movies I’ve seen in quite a while. The type that just sticks with you.
It's great to hear Erika's perspective on Nora's feelings. I think she nails it when she says Nora and Hae Song were "soulmates"... it's ostensibly clear that Nora's married life is not fulfilling, and what makes the film compelling is that Arthur is not a bad guy. Arthur, Nora and Hae Song are all good people that are stuck in a complex situation, but are resigned to their life. Great film, great reaction.
' it's ostensibly clear that Nora's married life is not fulfilling' where? That was not indicated or implied even a single time. Just because she has a special connection to Hae Song does not mean her marriage is not fulfilling. I'm actually very confused why you think they are 'resigned' to their life. I don't think any of them are and imo the film is far more positive and hopeful than your comment makes it seem. They are not resigned, they *choose* their lives. Nora explicitly *chooses* her life, she does not resign. She distances herself from Hae Song to focus on her life in NYC and she continues to choose the life she built for herself. That is not resigning.
@@wildoranges - I see you disagree with my assessment, but I retain my position that Nora's marriage was not fulfilling, mundane, lacked passion and it was clearly shown in the film on multiple occasions. - How many times did Nora tell Arthur she loved him? - How many times did Nora and Arthur make love? - Did Nora consider Arthur's feelings when she went to see Hae Song the second time? She wasn't very reassuring the first time around either. - Nora wasn't even aware that she and Arthur had never taken a fairy to the Statue of Liberty. - Nora's disregard toward Arthur for a large part of the bar scene was a bit disconcerting. - Nora's final walk after leaving Hae Song and break down in tears says a lot (hardly tears of happiness that Hae Song was gone)... it was the payoff of the film. I've probably missed a few more, but these are what I can think off the top of my head. I would say my assessment is as clear as day, but if you still disagree that's fine, too.
I haven't seen the movie yet, so I'll come back later to see the reaction. I suggest you watch another of the OSCAR nominees, #SocietyOfTheSnow. It is a masterpiece, based on the true story of the most incredible feat of survival in history. Greetings from Chile.
Probably because it hasn’t been released in Korea yet. It’s supposed to premiere there in March. CJ ENM co-produced it, and they’re one of the biggest companies in Korea. I’m sure they’ll promote it in due time and given the Oscar buzz Koreans will soon know
Check out our full uncut reaction and watch along with your own copy on:
- Patreon (www.patreon.com/posts/past-lives-2023-96613953?Link&)
- RUclips Memberships (ruclips.net/video/JoUDlWBdMww/видео.html)
Little fun note: Celine Song, the director, didn't let the two main leads touch AT ALL until that hug in the park when they were filming! So the chemistry in that scene is so palpable, especially for Hae Sung, since physical touch like hugs is extremely uncommon unless you're close friends/family/lovers in Korean culture.
That said, I see Past Lives as less of a traditional love story and more of an immigrant story. How I interpret Nora and Hae Sung's last scene together is Nora finally allowing herself to grieve what her life could have been in Korea, and Hae Sung is wrapped up in that along with her own complicated love for him. He's the physical representation of her old life in Korea and what that could've been, not even just romantically. Living in NA has hardened her into the person she's become (she doesn't cry anymore) and she had to leave behind her 12 year old self to become that person. The ending, to me, is her returning to her 12 year old self and letting her cry, letting her mourn what could have been. And also returning to Arthur and choosing what he is to her in this life. Hae Sung gets closure too, and he's able to let rest what could have been with Nora instead of letting her be that question mark at the back of his mind for the rest of his life.
Beautifully written! I love that interpretation. Break my heart for them all over again.
Thank you for watching and for sharing 🙏🙏
Really glad you kept most of the “bed scene” as it’s just so real and hae sung actor mastered that eyes acting
Such an important scene. It was so hard to cut anything - everything felt important. Really loved this film.
Best film of the year. What a debut.
I was shocked to hear this was her first film. So good.
my favorite movie of 2023, thanks for the high quality reaction! it broke me into a million pieces when she hugged arthur and sobbed into his arms :(
Such a great film. Really hope more people get a chance to see it!
Such a beautiful movie.
The song that plays at the end („See You“ by Chris Bear) is one of my favorites of last year because of that scene.
Set the tone perfectly!
To me, Hae Sung represents the life Nora never got to experience, her Korean roots. Moving from her country at such young age there's a version of her that got stuck and whenever Hae Sung is around is an accoumulation of "what ifs" no only in the romantic sense but also with her identity, her childhood. Andrew mentions that she dreams in Korean so I feel like she's stuck between two worlds and if you're an immigrant I think this hits harder. There's so many bridges you have to burn to get where you are now and Nora' burns the last and the strongest one at the end.
Great reaction guys!.
Idk, when I watched this movie I felt it was really obvious that Na-young / Nora would stay with Arthur. Like you guys said, what her and Haesung have is really special but the way I’d describe her relationship with Arthur is REAL. She is someone who leaves supposedly but that’s because Haesung just wasn’t her person to stay for. She had to break up with him initially because of that or at least that’s the way I interpreted it. She very well could’ve easily moved back to Seoul but that’s the very opposite of what she wanted even as a child. He would make her world smaller. Even if she probably could’ve been happy with him too. She’s my new favourite character in any kind of media haha.
I love this movie sm! Haesung and Arthur are also great characters. I wish I could watch it for the first time all over again.
Love this breakdown. For me, it's what you mentioned at the end -- he would make Nora's world smaller. Such a kind soul, and there's so much love. But even then; same friends talking about the same stuff, hanging out at the same spots. Nothing wrong with it -- just smaller.
I really do wonder what happens after this though. That's such a complex emotion to work through as a couple. The way Arthur described their relationship felt like it was all so circumstantial and convenient. And Nora didn't do much to make us feel otherwise.
Nonetheless -- amazing film. I'm with you. I wish I could experience it for the first time again, as well!
@@PhilipManzano
I think the way Arthur described it was heavily coloured by the fact that Haesung suddenly became a real person rather than just a memory and he was struggling with that. I don’t mean to say this is what you guys were feeling but I think a lot of the scenes in this movie subvert the typical scenes we’re used to when it comes to romance, especially gender roles and it’s hard to remove yourself from that. It isn’t typical for the female character to be one who isn’t as affectionate or reassuring but that’s exactly why she’s my favourite character haha. Nora seems to have grown reserved with her emotions for the sake of ‘making it’ and Arthur would know that about her. Her saying ‘you know me’ and reminding him that she loves him was all she could say. There’s no flair or dramatics to it in your typical romance movie fashion but it probably was enough for him because it’s true, he knows that she’s not an idealist and she wouldn’t do anything on a whim. Hence, giving up on Haesung in the first place.
Adding on, I think in real life, convenient is good. Convenient means comfortable and easy. They also are lucky to share the same passion as a couple. Arthur loves her and she loves him in turn because she chooses to nurture what she has with him in the end rather than chase after a fairytale. Their love may be dull compared to ‘what could’ve been’ but it’s still beautiful. I was going to use the word ‘mature’ or ‘adult’ to describe their love and just had the thought that that would be a nice parallel of Nora and Haesung being ‘babies’ when they loved eachother. It’s so good!
Oh and the detail of her supposedly not crying anymore but crying in Arthur’s arms. I LOVE THEM 🥲🥲
@@PhilipManzano - I think your wife, Erika, nailed it. Hae Sung and Nora are "soulmates" and that's not something we can say about Nora and Arthur. There are bits of the film where Arthur doesn't know things about Nora (her childhood) nor it seems they do things together (take a ferry to see the Statue of Liberty); we also don't see evidence of passion between Nora and Arthur. Arthru's feelings of inadequacy are real and Nora doesn't really do much to soothe them, at least in the way that he needs to hear. The ending scene is so heartfelt because, as Erika mentioned in the reaction, Nora is putting closure to that part of her life and seems resigned to spend her life with Arthur... I felt a bit of regret from Nora there. It's a complex mix of feelings and what makes it more compelling is that all characters are seemingly good people.
Such a beautiful movie and so much to unfold. I agree, the emotional connection is so much harder to compite with. Love doesn’t have to be physical. The end is so heartbreaking I was okay for the most of the movie and at the end I started sobbing with her!!
Masterpiece
This is a stunning film. I think I sobbed through the majority of it. It really touched a nerve with me.
So glad we saw this. So surprised Celine Song didn’t get a nod for Best Director.
What a surprise!
This film was a Masterpiece.......
This was such a tender and mature movie. Nora hugging her husband and letting the emotions of years of "In Yun" wash over her was a perfect ending.
Beautiful
I love this movie so much! What's beautiful movie..
איזה מקסימים אתם, היה ממש כיף לצפות בסרט בפעם השנייה, בחברתכם.
אני מאוד אוהב סרטים עצובים אבל הסרט הזה היה עצוב מידי, לא הצלחתי להשתחרר ממחשבות על הסרט במשך מספר ימים. סרט מדהים.
לדעתי, האהבה שלהם לא יכולה היתה להתממש בגלל שכל אחד היה מחובר חזק מידי לעולם הגיאוגרפי ולמנטליות שלו, הוא בקוריאה והיא באמריקה.
הסרט הזה הוא ללא ספק יצירת מופת, והריאקשן שלכם היה רגיש, נעים, חכם, מעניין וכייפי 😊
Absolute cinema! 🙌
Such a great movie!
Why this is the perfect love story and my absolute favorite film of 2023. Btw, I enjoy "rewatching" films and TV shows with you two. Our sensibilities are very similar.
As we well know, love is complicated, and there are different types. The love Nora felt for Hae Sung was very different than the love she felt/feels for Arthur.
The connection with Hae Sung came from the heart, as did his with her. This is why she cried at the end. Her heart was broken knowing the love they shared could never be realized.
As Hae Sung said in the park, he's an only child and he feels very ordinary. He could never come to NYC and be the kind of man to Nora that he feels he would need to be.
At the same time, he said that Nora was always too big for Korea, so he knew she would never return and settle for a simple "ordinary" life. This was the impasse they both knew could not be overcome. Their final goodbye, that impossibly long pause, was shattering.
On the other hand, Arthur is the comfortable reliable love Nora knew would allow her to be the person she wanted to be (in real life an amazing playwright and 1st time director!).
Arthur could sense this was her dilemma and knew that his only chance to keep her was to let them realize it. I completely agree with you that he knew a lot more Korean than he let on and understood what they were talking about at the bar. It must have been equally heartbreaking for him to know that she didn't feel the same kind of love for him that she did for Hae Sung.
This is a story that hit close to home, as I went through a very similar situation. In my case though, I ended 12 years of comfortable marriage to pursue my heart's desire, only to end up single and alone after 3 crazy years. Lol
I can't wait to see what Celine conjures up next, and it's a shame she's not up for Best Director and Greta Lee for Best Actress. Her performance was nothing short of perfection. The scene in the park when they met after 24 years was simply breathtaking.
Thank you for this thoughtful comment! Really loved reading through your insights. And I really appreciate the honesty and vulnerability to share 🙏
I agree with everything! And it’s such a shame that it didn’t get more Academy love. Celine will be a powerhouse in the industry. Greta was magnificent.
This was one of the most beautiful movies I’ve seen in quite a while. The type that just sticks with you.
@@PhilipManzano Have you guys seen Hirokazu Koreeda's Monster (Kaibutsu) yet? Please do if you haven't. I really want to see your reaction to it!
재미있게 잘 봤습니다
It's great to hear Erika's perspective on Nora's feelings. I think she nails it when she says Nora and Hae Song were "soulmates"... it's ostensibly clear that Nora's married life is not fulfilling, and what makes the film compelling is that Arthur is not a bad guy. Arthur, Nora and Hae Song are all good people that are stuck in a complex situation, but are resigned to their life. Great film, great reaction.
' it's ostensibly clear that Nora's married life is not fulfilling' where? That was not indicated or implied even a single time. Just because she has a special connection to Hae Song does not mean her marriage is not fulfilling.
I'm actually very confused why you think they are 'resigned' to their life. I don't think any of them are and imo the film is far more positive and hopeful than your comment makes it seem. They are not resigned, they *choose* their lives. Nora explicitly *chooses* her life, she does not resign. She distances herself from Hae Song to focus on her life in NYC and she continues to choose the life she built for herself. That is not resigning.
@@wildoranges - I see you disagree with my assessment, but I retain my position that Nora's marriage was not fulfilling, mundane, lacked passion and it was clearly shown in the film on multiple occasions.
- How many times did Nora tell Arthur she loved him?
- How many times did Nora and Arthur make love?
- Did Nora consider Arthur's feelings when she went to see Hae Song the second time? She wasn't very reassuring the first time around either.
- Nora wasn't even aware that she and Arthur had never taken a fairy to the Statue of Liberty.
- Nora's disregard toward Arthur for a large part of the bar scene was a bit disconcerting.
- Nora's final walk after leaving Hae Song and break down in tears says a lot (hardly tears of happiness that Hae Song was gone)... it was the payoff of the film.
I've probably missed a few more, but these are what I can think off the top of my head.
I would say my assessment is as clear as day, but if you still disagree that's fine, too.
Good one
Really enjoyed this one!
I haven't seen the movie yet, so I'll come back later to see the reaction. I suggest you watch another of the OSCAR nominees, #SocietyOfTheSnow. It is a masterpiece, based on the true story of the most incredible feat of survival in history. Greetings from Chile.
Thanks for the suggestion! We have been trying to get more movies on the channel - we will put it on the list. 👀
@@PhilipManzano Great!!!
"see you then." biiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch! oof
Fun fact: Majority of Koreans in their mainland doesn't know what this movie is.
Interesting! Must have just been a big push in North America. I wonder what a Korean audience would think of it.
Probably because it hasn’t been released in Korea yet. It’s supposed to premiere there in March. CJ ENM co-produced it, and they’re one of the biggest companies in Korea. I’m sure they’ll promote it in due time and given the Oscar buzz Koreans will soon know
this isn't even a korean movie so what? there are plenty of world acclaimed directors in korea who are ignored in their country
@@propertymanager9149 한국에 대해 자격지심이 많구나 검은머리외국인이니?