Past Lives

Past Lives is a poetic and thoughtful examination of love and life relationships. There is personal drama, existential crisis, well-textured relationships, wistful nostalgia, repressed emotions, raw and honest exploration of love, self-exploration, immigration displacement, and nostalgia. It balances the idyllic and the realistic idea of love as a two-sided coin.

The acting provides depth to these characters with clear-cut motives, potent character arcs, chemistry, growth, and vulnerability. There is a proper setup with layered tension and cathartic payoffs. Hence Past Lives stands out as an honest reflection on relationships and love subject to circumstances.

Past Lives conveys a mournful and wistful tone befitting the subject matter with poignancy. The restrained imagery utilizes motion, framing, focus, neon lighting, and widescreen projection. The editing offers inserts, slow pacing, flashbacks, dissolves, and chapters. The sound uses stings, distortion, and split cuts. Its poignant music underscores the tone of this story and gives it a sense of harmony and calmness.

The production design is contemporary and lived in. The cast isn't household names but they provide depth, nuance, and chemistry for these characters. The makeup and the practical effects strive for realism and authenticity. Overall Past Lives is an endearing and unflinching examination of the ideas of love, relationships, immigration trauma, and self-acceptance.

Writing: 10/10

Direction:10/10

Cinematography:10/10

Acting:10/10

Editing:8/10

Sound:8/10

Score:9/10

Prod design:7/10

Casting:8/10

Effects:6/10

Overall Score:8.6/10