Past Lives

Nora’s story of constant movement and goal changes was a familiar one. Nora wants to leave Korea behind her not wanting to stay in one place she refers to Ha Sung as very Korean the way he dresses, speaks and even his masculinity is very Korean. She’s lost a some of her identity trying to move on and pursue her career she only spoke Korean to her mother and the time on Skype with Ha Sung. She left her name and consistently changed the prize she wanted the Noble Peace Prize to a Pulitzer to a Tony. Ha sung fell in love with an ever evolving person not bound to one city or one pursuit. The most pivotal moment in the film for me was when Nora’s mother told Ha Sung’s mother that she let the kids have a date because she wanted to give her a loving memories. The last time Nora and Ha Sung saw each other was a quiet goodbye that left a sour taste in Ha Sung’s mouth and it stayed with him for 24 years. You can’t move on from strong bonds with a whimper leave with a moment that will last forever. That's why the last 10 mins are just perfection and made me melt. The sign of a great movie is when the credits roll there’s a sense that you needed to see it. Leaving my home after 16 years and trying to keep up with friendships and relationships that are ever growing apart was a rough patch and something that I’m still dealing with. This film was a necessity.