Past Lives – The Underdog Oscar-Nominated Film You Should Watch Now
It’s Oscars time! Every year at this time I check to see if I’ve seen any of the nominees. Pre-pandemic, I would have seen at least half of the Best Picture nominees, but this year, I’ve only seen one. And honestly, I have no regrets. The one movie I did see that got nominated was Past Lives. It’s up for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. It was the only movie I went to see in theaters, and the one movie I thought about long after the credits rolled. Here’s why you need to run, not walk, to see this movie.
What’s Past Lives About?
Past Lives is about Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) who are childhood best friends in South Korea. They drift apart as Nora emigrates with her family. “Two decades later, they are reunited in New York for one fateful week as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life, in this heartrending modern romance.” By the way, Nora is now married. Here’s the trailer.
What I loved about Past Lives
I love movies that breathe. Movies with that slow burn, and don’t feel “busy” and full of action. That’s what this felt like to me. It was beautiful and emotional and painful. It had me sitting in my feelings in the very best way. The storytelling felt special. It gave me time to absorb and experience what the characters were going through. I loved that it introduced me to the Korean word Inyeon. The term Inyeon means fate, or being connected in lives other than this one. “And in every lifetime, it’s going to mean something a little different.” (Writer/Director Celine Song Newsweek) I loved that the film had me thinking about it long after leaving the theater. To me, those are the very best movies. Movies that have me thinking of choices that I’ve made in life. Ones that have me questioning my thoughts about relationship dynamics. Movies that make me feel.
Chances of a Best Picture win
According to Betting Odds, here are their predictions.
- Oppenheimer (1/7)
- The Holdovers (14/1)
- Poor Things (14/1)
- Killers of the Flower Moon (25/1)
- Anatomy of a Fall (33/1)
- American Fiction (40/1)
- The Zone of Interest (40/1)
- Barbie (50/1)
- Maestro (66/1)
- Past Lives (66/1)
I highly recommend you watch Past Lives.
