Past Lives

Two childhood friends are reunited, but struggle to find the space for their old feelings for each other in their now very different lives. One of the most anticipated romances of the year and a stunning film debut from playwright Celine Song.

Nora and Hae Sung were close childhood friends, possibly on the verge of becoming something more, but when Nora's family emigrates from South Korea to Canada, their paths diverge. However, a strong friendship cannot be forgotten, and twelve years later, after finishing his military service, Hae Sung gets in touch with his old friend via the internet. The conversation flows with ease between them, and they ache to meet in person, but the distance is great, and they both have other commitments to attend to. He is headed to China for a language exchange, while Nora is an aspiring playwright going to a writing retreat. How will their lives be when they meet again, and what role will they play for each other then?

Celine Song's film debut has garnered all sorts of praise since the January premiere at Sundance. Past Lives is an unusually mature and thoughtful romance about what could have been and what is.

«A romance that never veers into soppy territory, Past Lives expertly chronicles three distinct but interconnected timeframes, capturing the immigrant experience, the shifting of time, and the inescapable solidity of love with a soulful texture and rare maturity.» – William Stottor, Loud and Clear –

Jenny Lund

Director

Celine Song (b. 1989) is a South Korean-Canadian director, playwright, and writer. As a playwright, she created the play "Endlings" (2020) and directed The Seagull on The Sims 4 (2020), a rendition of Chekhov's The Seagull performed in the video game The Sims 4. She also wrote the play Tom & Eliza (2016). Additionally, she served as a staff writer on Amazon's The Wheel of Time (2021-).

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