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Past Lives | Movie Guide

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Welcome to our Colossus Movie Guide for Past Lives. This guide contains everything you need to understand this film. Dive into our detailed library of content, covering key aspects of the movie. We encourage your comments to help us create the best possible guide. Thank you!

The Quick Analysis

Past Lives explores the very powerful experience of opportunity cost. If Nora’s family stayed in Korea, it’s a much different life than what they end up having in Canada. Likewise, if Nora stayed in Canada, then she wouldn’t be the person so shaped by a decade of living and writing in New York City. Nora’s love interests embody this idea of diverging paths. Hae Sung representing aspects of Korea and traditional masculinity that contrast heavily with Arthur, a Jewish New Yorker who is a bit more emotional and open. By choosing one over the other, Nora’s making a choice about her life and accepting its course and journey. 

What Celine Song depicts in Past Lives is something all of us have experienced—the branching paths of life. The person who goes out of state for college must wonder what it would have been like if they had stayed closer to home. The person who lives in the town they grew up in dreaming about if they had accepted the job offer that would have taken them out of state. The person you went on a couple dates with but it didn’t work out because of timing. Our lives are full of these what ifs. And if we entertain every one of them, it can become a burden. A cherished burden. But a burden all the same. Past Lives gets at the idea of closure and letting go and being okay with living the life you have, and leaving the rest up to fate. 

Cast

  • Nora – Greta Lee
  • young Nora – Seung Ah Moon
  • Hae Sung – Teo Yoo
  • young Hae Sung – Seung Min Yim
  • Arthur – John Magaro
  • Nora’s mom – Ji Hye Yoon
  • Written by – Celine Song
  • Directed by – Celine Song

Movie Guide

Title Explanation

What does the title Past Lives signify? How does it relate to the movie’s intentions and storyline?

Themes and Meaning

Discover themes that help us define Past Lives’s commentary, message, and meaning.

Ending Explained

Confused by the ending of Past Lives? Our comprehensive explanation will clear up any lingering questions.

Important Motifs

Delve into the important motifs that highlight the most critical moments of symbolism in Past Lives.

Key Shots

Explore the most important and symbolic shots that help us understand the deeper meaning of Past Lives. Coming soon.

Movies Like Past Lives

Enjoyed Past Lives? Discover our recommendations for movies with similar themes and vibes. Coming soon.

Questions and Answers

If you have questions about Past Lives, we have answers. Comment what you’re curious about and receive a response.

Chris
Chris
Chris Lambert is co-founder of Colossus. He writes about complex movie endings, narrative construction, and how movies connect to the psychology of our day-to-day lives.
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