How director Celine Song hopes you'll feel about Past Lives | BAFTA
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 มิ.ย. 2024
- Past Lives Director Celine Song delves deep into the casting of the film, the creative techniques she used to make key moments feel real for the actors and how her first film has helped slay her dragons.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:15 How Past Lives came about
01:12 Casting Nora and Hae Sung
04:29 Clip: Nora and Hae Sung as children
05:30 Creating chemistry
08:42 Clip: The first scene
09:48 The hardest scene
12:08 Clip: What if?
12:50 Slaying three dragons
16:17 Clip: One more time
16:59 Audience reception
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The husband, Arthur, feels like the hero in the film for me. His vulnerability is powerful. How he can hold space in the discomfort seeing his wife talking to a possible competition yet not controlling her and still trusting her maturity that she knows what to do and how to navigate this experience in their marriage. Also, giving her the space to explore the what ifs in her life and in her past so she can have the closure that she needed. And how he didn't judge her when she cried at the last scene. Now that is love.
I think that's y one should Date artist....they'll never judge you and your skin..❤
Saw this film yesterday and haven't been able to take my mind off it. There is a rare kind of honestly in every frame, some unsaid truth that you can't put a finger on.. but you feel it in your bones.
He is definitely a “good” husband. He definitely has his insecurities.
But the good thing about this movie is that there is no villain in the movie. It’s just complex people on the screen.
THAT IS LOVE !!!!! THAT IS the first thing i thought when i left the cinema!
Had the same thought. He's the hero. His restrain, his love - the husband shines. He's not perfect but yet he makes it.
The very last scene got me... The cathartic release of many years of pent-up.
Me, too. Just finished watching this beautiful, understated film. The last scene really hooked me in, and moved me to tears. The dialogue throughout this film touched me as well, especially with Nora and her husband. The three actors in this film were fabulous, along with Celine's screenplay and directing. Best film I've seen in quite some time.
I didn't get past about 10 mins before the first lot of tears started to flow.
I find it incredulous that this is Celine's directorial debut! What a way to start! With a cinematic masterpiece no less! Casting, cinematography & acting richly congruent. In particular, the silent moments project more words than the script itself! Utterly riveting and powerful. Celine has immense poise and tenderness in this body of work. Like an old, old soul! A masterful, bittersweet proposition in humanity. Congrats on your Oscar/s too!
A nice and precise contribution to the discussion. Thank you, @audionoir100.
It’s going to be all downhill from here on… hahaha…. But seriously, I wish her the best. However, it’s going to be tough to match or best such a personal movie for her; similar to Barbie and Greta Gerwig - how do you follow up with the success of that movie?
She father is a famous comedy film director in Korea.
The Oscar noms haven't been announced yet.
Her father was a director, too, which tells me it's in her blood. And, she grew up in the environments where her father was doing all that, and she was witnessing it and absorbing it all as he told her stories of how and why and what he was doing. What a ride she has had and is now sharing with her audience.
If ever a film was a poem, this one was it.
Why is the aching surging agony of Love so so beautiful, divine and compelling?
I think that are plenty of poetic films in cinema history man... Not just this one
Fun fact: Celine Song's dad was actually a filmmaker, just like the heroine's dad in the movie. He only made two movies before he quit altogether and immigrated to Canada with his family. The first of these, "Number 3," featured a performance by Song Kang-ho (i.e. the lead in “Parasite”) that is still talked about today.
Her dad must be so proud of her!^^
I felt impressed by the film's ability to have such well written characters and elicit real emotion without resorting to the usual clichés we see in most Hollywood movies. For being her directorial debut, she did a fantastic job, as did the actors. Great film.
I personally believe the last scene, with Arthur hugging Nora, is so touching also because it makes us realize the movie is, indeed, a love story, but the central couple is Nora and her husband. Such an amazing film.
I think it’s great she wrote 3 very relatable characters. From Nora who shows that kind of youthful passion we have, ambition that drives us to do great things. Arthur shows the insecurities we can all have within a relationship, but the emotional maturity to know things are okay. Hae sung is the optimist yet broken hearted man, who gets his closure. It’s a remarkable piece of media
Celine, I was crying in the start because I knew where it was heading. I was crying in the middle because I knew where they had come from and I knew where it was heading. I was crying at the end because I had known all along where it was heading. And I cried during the night and I am crying the following day. This is a cosmic story indeed, everyone sees so much subtelty and so much reality and relatability, so much candor and understanding in the characters, it's definitely not a niche theme either, this one is a keeper. Thank you for having believed in yourself and in your story. Beauty in simplicity. Beauty in everyday stories.
Not only was this movie so moving and memorable it was (imo) a masterclass in storytelling and movie making. All film studies classes should use it as a case study.
This film is 100% under my skin, 3 times at the cinema so far and I still want more . . . my film of the year, no question.
Bravo Celine Song, bravo.
I saw it for the second time on big screen yesterday. It's amazing. I could concentrate on the directing and it's superb. Very balanced, very pure film. This is a debut film........that's the most amazing thing about this masterpiece.
I love Celine’s intentionality! It made the film feel more realistic and I agree chemistry between people is often overlooked in big Hollywood films because they’re “big names” but the chemistry and tension was so strong. She pulled on my heartstrings throughout the entire film and I enjoyed watching their story unfold. And then *tears*.
This movie tugged at my heart strings in so many unexpected ways. I think the most brilliant scene was the ending when you think Nora is holding it all together as Hae Sung rides away in a taxi but then when Nora is walking back home she suddenly begins quickening her pace, hurrying to meet Arthur's familiar and warm embrace. He almost anticipates her reaction and comes quickly to comfort her. It's the real love that you see demonstrated in that simple, powerful moment that juxtaposes the idealistic and almost whimsical love between Nora and Hae Sung that I believe ties up this brilliant movie.
A must see, bring tissues. ❤
Past Lives is a truly wonderful film and I found it incredibly moving.
Congratulations to everyone involved.
Cinematic masterpiece. Deserves international recognition! The best movie I’ve seen in the past 5 years.
Where the Crawdads Sing ? …movie is awesome too🫶✊✨
By far my favourite film of the year. Should at the very least get Oscar nominations for best Director, Best actress, Best Film and hopefully will win Best Original Screenplay.
I moved to the US when I was 16 and this movie definitely hit in a way that’s very personal and poignant for me. I cried and cried and cried again after the theater experience and still feel tears welling up every time I watch clips from it.
❤
It was totally fate and destiny that you saw her movie and connected so intimately with the film and characters and the plot❤
You related to this movie very closely. Thank you for sharing your story.
I saw this movie on a flight and I was so moved that I kept tearing. It’s one of the best I’ve seen in years - it’s got under my skin . Congratulations to Celine Song, actors and crew for a great piece ..
Bravo !
Its so wonderful to listen to the creator of the movie talking about the movie and process that involved making the movie . Gives a more deeper understanding of the movie .
I watched this on my flight back to London, sobbed my eyes out and it is now my second favourite movie ever
Such a fantastic movie, I cried bucket loads. It is about timing in life, isn't it? If you are meant to be, you will cross paths again and so sad, I wished at the end they could love each other again. She has this longing, and it will be hard for Arthur to understand how to be not the 'only' one in her life. We all had past lives so it really resonates to me to think what life could have been if you had taken a different path.
She ended the interview in such a powerful way.
I just finished watching this movie. I'm a korean-braziilian-american immigrant that also left a childhood love behind.. Celine, if you are seeing this comment. Thank you so much for making this beautiful movie. It left me tears of agony and despair (in a good way, you''ll probably understand)
She really did create an epic masterpiece in this quiet personal film.
Got to be in the running for Oscars. Best film of the year. Acting unbelievable. So emotional.
How great does it feel when you listen to these interviews and the admiration of the chemistry, the performances and the story just fourfold and the authenticity of the characters just makes sense to you. One of the best in many years hands down!!
The story of her making the first movie and going ahead with all the things she didn't know is very touching and inspiring. Thank you, Celine Song! That's a story well-told.
I watched this a while back and cried and cried and cried as they left each other for the last time.
To my childhood sweetheart, I wish you all the best and love in the world. And perhaps, we'll meet in our next lives again.
I love how much thought she puts into the chracters minds and how she treats it like a psychogical research paper by doing chem tests so cool. amazing person and director inpsired me alot. i hope to see alot more from her.
It's incredible how Song used psychology and the art of perception to create chemistry between these actors. So well done!
What a beautiful way to put it as “there’s no one thing that I expect anybody to feel”. This movie, no matter where you’re at in your life, you can still find the story is related in some ways
I hope we get to see the child actors’ chemistry tape. It sounds amazing.
This is an absolute masterpiece and I’m blown away this is Celine’s directorial debut! This resonated with me on a level I never could have predicted. This is one of the most beautiful and pure films I’ve seen in quite some time… well done!!
Love her for making this film, because it is one of the most beautiful films I've seen in my life but also I hate it at the same time. There is this empty feeling that lingers in me. This is one of the films that's so beautiful that you wished you never watched, but be glad that you did. Trust me its worth all the tears. This film is beautifully painful.
I feel this deeply. You put this so well.
OMG this is your FIRST FILM? WOOOOOOWWWW I'm beyong grateful that you did what you did because I LOVE EVERY DETAIL. o Still remember littles scenes with not so much screen time that made me feel so conencted to the story and the moment, the right moment. Thank you so much for your work, i'm excited about what's coming next.
Watched this movie on the plane, heard about it for sometime but never got around to it until then. I have a similar life experience, and I felt every frame, when they reunited in their college years, and especially when Nora cried in the last scene, I cried like it was my own story.
I'm also glad to see so many people who hasn't had the same experiences can also relate and be touched. It's a testament to great writing, directing and acting, the whole package.
the director is so authentic and it shows in her film.
Masterful. This film was masterful. The relationships created and how it was told- I am speechless- just watched this earlier and it was so so beautiful. This is what adult relationships can be…
I can’t wait to see Celine Song’s work in the future.
The film was like an extended haiku- it was so poetic and painterly. So so so good.
Absolute love pours out to this movie, the emotional connection I had with Nora at the end really had me in tears. Celine I hope you carry on creating films as wonderful as Past Lives, it was truely an amazing film. (and not to mention how smart Celine was with the chemistry reads and actually keeping the actors apart, in order to completely do justice to the characters). Genius move.
The chemistry between the children was so successfully done. I really felt their unique and special relationship and I felt how that is the most powerful thing in life - that rare holistic affinity with another person.
I've just come out of the cinema after watching Past Lives, with my eyes were reddened and sinuses running. A beautiful movie!!! How many of us can look back on loves lost, past lives and emotions torn?? Every one of us!!!
Many, many thanks for writing this story and producing this movie!!!!
It reminds me of a time twenty-three years ago when I was a at bar with a friend. We got talking to a group of three people - a German guy, an Australian guy and a young woman (around 30 years of age) from the Indian sub-continent who spoke with a beautiful accent.
The Aussie guy and her were partners a few years before and, by this time, she was living with the German guy here in Australia. She was fun with a good sense of humour, the German guy was from Germany, and the Aussie guy talkative and welcoming.
The German guy left early through frustration at the table service.. Two hours later, we all went back to the Indian woman's and German guy's house for dinner. Lamb chops in coconut sauce, I remember, that the Aussie guy prepared.
I slept on their sofa and left early the next morning but, stupidly, I never kept in contact with them. She was also crazy for Vivian, the West Indian cricket batsman.
I hope she is doing well and, will maybe, read this someday and drink vino. Good health to you all.
Thank you for this movie!!!! Thank you for this movie!!!!
its a bittersweet type of movie . love the way it ended . thankyou
The movie is amazing and you can tell by the way Celine talks about her way of working that she contributed a lot of great things to the film. Would love to work with her one day.
I saw that movie and totally was in awe with the "intelligence" of the director Celine Song, she is really smart and articulate, reminds me of Ang Lee..., look forwards to seeing what she will come up with next...
Brilliant!!! I am obsessed with this film and Celine talking about it and her process. Brilliant. All the feels. And New York City and Korea are characters too. Bravo
Such a heartfelt, achingly beautiful movie. Definitely worth the rewatch ❤
This is a lovely interview, and Celine Song’s thoughtful, nuanced, and heartfelt reflections on the process of creating “Past Lives,” directing it, and bringing it to life are moving and quite beautiful.
I sobbed at the end of this movie just like Nora did. Beautiful movie!
This movie is just beyond words for describing, it's emotional, moving and it connects with you on a deeper level. Thank you, Celine Song and all the crew❤
Masterpiece art done by @Celine Song, Can't able to believe it's her first movie! When one tries to portray with passion,you will see the result like this movie.
The dragon was finally slain with providence!
Thanks again to @celine song for bring such an amazing life experienced concept to audiences.
Nailed it!
Dear Celine Song, wonderfully made film I watched it on flight from Hong Kong to L.A. this movie touched me unexpectedly in a profound way I’m a family man Hispanic American and my wife of 13 years is a 1.5 South Korean American and there are various aspects of this film that I fully welcomed under my skin! Thank you once again this film is forever a favorite along with Joy Luck Club. Blessings to you and yours!
Joaquin
many relatable moments- So impressed by the characters maturity and respect for each other
This movie is wonderful, universal… Greta story, perfectly told and great actors
What a debut! Kudos to A24.
I love how she talks about her film, you can see the care she put into it and it shows in the final product. Amazing work and I’ll be waiting for her next project 🤍
So relatable. It hurts to see your love move on due to bad timing when you thought they’d wait. And it hurts to be the new guy witnessing a potential threat.
The thoughtfulness of the writing, casting and the characters is wonderful. This movie means so much in many ways. Nothing surfaces. Deep.❤
How come this simple story moved me so much😢
I've just watched Past Lives in the cinema. Such a wonderful film, beautifully cut and played, with lots of symbolism, subtleness and grace.
How was it Celine's debut? Wow!! I cannot wait for her next one. ❤
What a movie! So profound, so beautiful and natural ❤. It touches the soul. One of my favourite movies of all times. I hope the team and the movie win all awards that worth it ❤. Cross fingers for you!
I was touched by this interview and I must watch this movie! How much emotional work goes into creating a character and in making it real for the actors and the audience!
Thank you Celine for creating such a delicate and at the same time powerful story.
Key insights
💫 "Past Lives" is a movie inspired by a real-life moment where the director found herself translating between two men who represented different parts of her own self.
🎭 The chemistry between the child actors was crucial in portraying the enduring childhood chemistry that spans the 24 years of the movie.
😢 The little boy's emotional ad lib made the actress cry, showing the power of authentic and connected performances.
💫 The first take of the actors touching each other created a chemistry and extraordinary feeling that was built upon for the final scene in the film.
🕵♀ The opening scene of the film was challenging because it required the audience to become detectives and engage with the characters on a deeper level.
🌍 Celine Song emphasizes the importance of making sure her movie is felt and understood by the audience, indicating the significance of connecting with viewers on an emotional level.
🎥 Each individual audience member's personal experiences and perspectives shape their unique and intimate connection to the movie.
🎥 The director's main goal is for the movie to resonate with each individual viewer in a unique and personal way, allowing it to become a deeply personal experience.
The film is soo beautiful. Well done. I love how true to life it was. I cried at the end.
I can totally relate to her passion to her work and bringing her idea to film.
Celine Song is a GENIUS! BRAVO! And bravo to Teo and Greta! Their chemistry was INSANE! Im crying the whole film!!!!!
Fabulous in every aspect,in every sense,
Thank you for plucking out our vulnerabilities, our life journeys, our sorrows and joys.
So many “what ifs” that we tend to wonder about.
Greta was fabulous when she said… this is where i ended up, next to you.
This is my life.
Living in the present. Grateful for her achievements. I cheer for people who know what they want and follow their dreams.
Isn’t life full of magical possibilities 👏👏👏👏
Incredible that this is her debut film.
Celine, all I will say is that I loved this film so much. Thank you, thank you, for making it.
The long distance relationship part of the movie hit hard.. I felt something all throughout this movie .. you did an impeccable job..
"translating between to parts of myself." WOOOOF that is heavy and beautiful and profound.
One of the best this year! My frontrunner for BP at the upcoming Oscars!
Not when oppenheimer and killers of the flower moon exist
Front-runner for a Best Picture Oscar nomination, definitely
My favorite film by far this year. Such a special movie. Perfect actually. ❤
I hope someday they publishes the making of the film
Ok why am i still crying about this after months of watching it 😭
I started crying about 10 mins into watching this beautiful film. That has never happened to me before.
So so beautiful to hear about the casting process especially.
I just watched it. I cried so hard.
I agree with the director about timing ,what this film would mean to you. It is personal. I liked the film a lot. I would recomend it , even rewatch it ( in another time).
Very insightful talk by Celine Song - about the process.
I just watched the movie and had to look up Celine Song's interview. It's an amazing movie from an amazing director and makes me look forward to her future movies.
This movie is so relatable in so many levels. I was absorbed by the characters, and I loved that they all respected the in-yun concept, to the point they accepted with a straight face what it "decided" for them.
Si algún día Celine llega a leer esto. "Gracias por haber tenido la valentía de abrirnos tu corazón para compartir tu historia, disfrute muchísimo de las conversaciones, sobre todo la forma en la que ellos compartían su espacio y tiempo en silencio sintiéndose cómodos, después de todo los silencios también son parte de la partitura"
"The opening scene has to be a million things at a time, but still has to be singular, and set the tone." --- Accurately described their opening scene, wow
Just watched the movie and I can't help but think of the fact that Celine song wants us to feel something out of this movie based on where you are in your life and I feel like this movie has hit me hard in that sense.
I felt when Arthur said I can't compete which is the same thing I told my gf. Arthur taught me emotional maturity to not impact the relationship because of my insecurity.
Best film of the year. My favorite! Can’t wait to see what Celine had in store for us…
What an AMAZING director Celine Song, so intelligent and sensitive. I have seen Past Lives already 2 times and want to watch it again. It is so true what she says about timing, what it would mean to every viewer.
She should win all the awards 👏👏👏💫 and what a perfect cast! 😍🤩
Your movie was awaited, watched with great pleasure (twoice), felt and understood. Thank you for this masterpiece 🙏🏽 Greetings from Colombia.
It’s a film I truly want to see soon. Unfortunately, I live in Japan, and the wait seems indefinitely long.
I think a flood of memories and emotions will overwhelm me when I finally see it. ❤
Got an email address?
Watched on
Flight back to sfo from kix
If you travel on Singapore airlines, it's included as one of the movies in the in flight entertainment at the moment!
Such a good interview!
I don’t know how to feel.. but I know this is one of the greatest love stories ever.. I really wanted them to be together 😢.. the ending was so good.. her crying at the end just brought everything together .. made me so satisfied with the ending..
I have just seen this little gem…I loved it…❤
Always have faith in things makes feel great
this is a really beautiful movie. great job celine.
한국어로 말할 때와 영어로 발음할 때 또 다른 측면의 셀린 송 감독님을 볼 수 있어서 좋네요^^.
좋은 영화 만들어주신 감독님에게 감사합니다. 저도 주인공과 비슷한 경험이 있어서 더욱 공감하고 볼수 있었습니다
A very tender and thoughtful movie ❤
Some debut. I can’t describe how this film made me feel. Thank you all for this.
It’s the best film I’ve watched in a long time. Thank you 🙏
The story was indeed heartbreaking and at the same time beautiful...I wasn't hoping for a different ending and nor was I blaming any character for how things ended...this movie captured the exact feeling of each character. All the characters were mature and self-aware which is what made the movie so beautiful, the way the two lovers hid their feelings for each other under dust, using a myth (Nora mentions that it's just a Korean myth used to seduce someone, it's evident she doesn't believe the concept of In-Yin) But yet she convinces herself there's no going back...Love is very confusing and depressing, yet we all choose to look for it... it's the harsh truth that not all r destined to find love, wish there was a way to change that...I cried every shot of this movie. THANK YOU FOR THIS MASTERPIECE!!!!!