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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.

Really glad you kept most of the “bed scene” as it’s just so real and hae sung actor mastered that eyes acting

Best film of the year. What a debut.

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 :(

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!.

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.

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.

This is a stunning film. I think I sobbed through the majority of it. It really touched a nerve with me.

What a surprise!

This film was a Masterpiece.......

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.

I love this movie so much! What's beautiful 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.

Absolute cinema! 🙌

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 😊

Good 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.

"see you then." biiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch! oof

Fun fact: Majority of Koreans in their mainland doesn't know what this movie is.