Past Lives is one of those films that are so well written and have such a personal touch that they start to feel transcendent. The contemporary story starts to exude a folklore-ish charm, and the characters give the impression that they are archetypal in nature. The sense of heartbreak is obviously a core human emotion, and the great thing about Past Lives is that writer-director Celine Song manages to bring that long-lost feeling of poignant romance to life in this film.

The story of Past Lives revolves around Hae Sung and Nora, two kids who were separated due to circumstances and faced the pangs of unfulfilled love in their own ways. Nora was initially on her own path to becoming a great writer when her parents emigrated from Korea, while Hae Sung remained in Seoul, served in the army, and had his own journey. He tried to contact Nora, and as luck would have it,...