Finally Friday - Past Lives Film

 If you are looking  for a lovely quiet film  to see this weekend to beat the heat, go see Past Lives. Nothing  explodes (well, maybe some hearts). It's a talking kind of film. Very low key. It does have some subtitles. And it will make you think as you come out of the theater. Excellent acting, story line, and execution. 

Twelve year old childhood friends are destined to be together. They compete in education. They walk to school together every day. And they are best friends.  But the girl and her family emigrate from Seoul, Korea to Canada. So that's that. 

Twelve years later, Nora (Greta Lee) is studying in NYC and working on being a playwright. She sees that Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) has been trying to find her on the internet.  They connect and Facetime. All grown-up and yet strangers. He's an engineering student in Seoul. Slowly, shyly they talk. You can tell that he has not forgotten her at all, but she can tell that she's moved on. And yet...there's a connection.  But, she's working on her career and declares, " I can't keep talking  to you.  Bye for now."

Twelve years later, we see her with her husband, Arthur, ( John Magaro) and also Hae Sung. Sung is visiting from Korea after so many years. From flashbacks, we see how he's been drifting and she met and married a Jewish man, and continued with her career - hoping  for a Tony someday. 

So, it's a fateful week that confronts destiny, love, and life choices. (wikipedia summary line)

Past Lives is truly well done. Big thumbs up from  me and my friend  Linda T.