Dare I say Past Lives is my roman empire.

I think we can all agree that Past Lives is the most relatable movie in 2023. We can find similarities between our lives and Past Lives. It’s like, “Scott Street” by Phoebe Bridgers is playing in your head and you’re reminiscing your past all over again. I always feel “something” about this type of story, aren’t you too?

I went to the cinema alone to contemplate my life. And... Yup, this movie reminds me of “the one that got away.” I didn’t notice that one decision changed my life because I was a 12-year-old who knew nothing. I thought I grow up normally until years later I realized that something was missing: I ain’t growing up with you anymore.

But, what can we do? Did Hae Sung know how to make Nora stayed though? It’s life anyway—we can’t control things externally. “It is what it is” isn’t cliché, it’s true. It’s useless to think about what-ifs because only one universe exists. “In another life...” No, SHUT THE FUCK UP! If your good story with a good person ends badly, then the ending is bad.

If you’re a Nora (idealist version), you probably think about Hae Sung a lot—you believe that your relationship with him was the peak and nobody compares to him. But Nora in the movie is a realist, she’s blue but... There’s no way Hae Sung is her fate in her current life and she can’t force him to.

You can’t have everything in your life. You can’t have your personal best and working on your shit at the same time. You have to let go of one thing and usually, you have to let go of your favorite person. To be able to have an upgraded life with some shit to do, it’s what you’re supposed to do, right? But this world isn’t perfect. You have to lose someone and new shit would come to replace it. Nora grew apart from Hae Sung because she had to work for her career in New York.

Hae Sung was trapped in his mind and he was wondering about what could’ve been. But fate only connected Hae Sung and Nora in the past. They were soulmates when they were kids, not when they are adults. He tried to reach her again... But time’s up. It’s not the same anymore. Nora changed, but the little Nora that Hae Sung knew was still a part of her. Would in-yun connects them again? Nobody knows about the future. Just focus on current life because that’s what’s important the most.

Character like Arthur is what we need to face current life. We need someone to talk to about what happens today, not someone who makes us waste our time thinking about, “If only I did this, you won’t leaving...” No, that story is over without epilogue nor sequel and let’s accept it. Arthur needs to be appreciated more. He opened up about Hae Sung and he hugged Nora when she was crying.

You really wanted your Hae Sung to be “the one.” Your Arthur may not be someone you spend your time with in wonderland, but Arthur’s simplicity would make you fall. It’s nice to have someone to laugh with after working all day long, isn’t it?

In the end, both Hae Sung and Arthur are two people who left their marks on Nora’s heart. They have two different positions in Nora’s life. You can’t rewrite the stars with your Hae Sung and life moves on with your Arthur.

If you relate to Hae Sung, Nora always considers you as an important person in her life. She had a big influence because she was your first love, but that doesn’t mean you could depend your fate on her as if she were the only person left. She’s already finished her role in your life. It’s time for you to say thank you and goodbye.