What if…?

Undoubtedly, we all have moments in our lives that we look back on and wonder “What if I had done this and not this, chosen this way and not that one, etc.?” As it traces the relationship of Nora and Hae Sung from their adolescence in South Korea to 12 years later to 12 additional years later, Past Lives is basically a giant “what if.” The main characters Nora and Hae Sung obviously have a special relationship; but when Nora’s family immigrates to the U.S. (and when she adopts her American name Nora), their lives take different paths–only to reunite virtually when the two are 24 and then in person when they are 36.

In a way, this story is about immigration and how it changes the lives of all involved. But it’s also about connections, how sometimes we just feel something for someone and can’t really put a finger on the nature of the connection or why it even exists. For Nora in particular (spoiler alert!), her relationship with Hae Sung ties her to her country of origin, to her past, to what she left behind. She tells her husband–who is not Korean–that when she’s with Hae Sung she both feels more Korean and less Korean. In other words, this relationship leads Nora to ponder her identity.

Why This Film Might Win Best Picture:

Past Lives is a simple story about normal people. Because this film is about some pretty common issues such as personal relationships/connections, identity, and questioning one’s choices in life, many people–including Academy voters–likely find they can relate to the storyline. Sometimes a quiet story is a welcome one.

Why This Film Might Not Win Best Picture:

Well, to be honest, this movie is a bit slow; and while I appreciated the quiet of the story as a break from something louder and flashier like Oppenheimer, it didn’t seem like much happened in Past Lives. The latest Oscar polls seem to indicate this film is currently in last place in the BP hunt. But one never knows. Perhaps enough Academy voters have personally wrestled with the “what if” question enough to throw a few votes toward Past Lives.