“There is a word in Korean. In-Yun. It means ‘providence’, or ‘fate’. But it’s specifically about relationships between people.”
In-Yun is a Korean term originating from Buddhism, it refers to the idea of destined paths having multiple lives but, in every life, you still hold the same connections and trials as your past life.
When two childhood sweethearts part ways, they typically gravitate and find each other in the end however in this case, it’s more than that. Korean-Canadian director Celine Song debuts an Oscar nominee film ‘Past Lives’ exploring the idea of fate and how it influences our lives. It follows the story of two childhood companions Nora and Hae Sung who cross paths two decades after Nora’s family immigrates to the U.S. Reuniting as adults, they confront their past connection and contemplate its impact on their past, present and future life.
What makes this film special, is that there is more than it meets to the eyes. Past Lives is not just about romance, it’s not just a film of two childhood friends reconnecting years later but, it is also a complicated tale of uncertainty and fate, and how people come and go creating an impact on your life. It’s also about identity and the experience of leaving what was once your comfort place, your home. To Nora, Hae Sung represents the past version of herself, the life she lived in Korea as a child, so when they finally say their goodbyes, Nora is seen crying to her husband, Arthur. In a way, Nora’s crying shows grief as not only she is saying goodbye to a former connection, but also to the twelve-year-old girl whom she left in Korea. This closure highlights their ending in this lifetime and what could’ve been in their past life or future life.
With its breathtaking cinematography and captivating performance, Celine Song perfectly delivers a story of what it means to leave a life behind and the possibilities of what could’ve been if for that one decision, alternating your life choices through the concept of In-Yun. The simplicity is what makes the film so beautiful leaving a bittersweet feeling towards the end, and it is arguably if not, the best film of the year in 2023.