Past Lives

Directed by Celine Song, Past Lives follows childhood friends Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) as they reconnect after many years apart and slowly begin developing romantic feelings for one another. Filmmaker Song, armed with her own screenplay, delivers a watchable yet rarely involving drama that remains unable to wholeheartedly capture the viewer’s interest and attention, with the arms-length feel perpetuated by Song’s exceedingly, excessively deliberate approach to the often aggressively spare material – which, in turn, prevents the movie from making the emotional impact for which the first-time filmmaker is obviously striving. It’s clear, then, that Past Lives‘ mild success is due predominantly to Song’s steady directorial hand and the leads’ superb efforts, although, in terms of the latter, there’s little doubt that the general lack of romantic chemistry between Lee and Yoo’s respective figures prevents one from working up much investment in their relationship – with this vibe heightened by Song’s ongoing emphasis on the characters’ small-talk-focused conversations. And while it’s ultimately clear exactly what Song’s attempting to do here, Past Lives‘ padded-out atmosphere ensures that it rarely, if ever, possesses the emotional resonance promised by its gentle, relatable setup.

**1/2 out of ****