Ah, yes, the romance-less romance. Ever since Once, at least a dozen of these films have popped up. Collectively, they are a celebration of angst, remorse, and unrequited companionship. It is as if directors suddenly realized they didn’t even need to stress about having something happen in the film – oh, leave that to the actors; they’ll figure it out.
Most critics seem to love the romance-less romance.
I don’t.
And I will tell you why: Because every story we tell is about choices. Good choices, bad choices, sensible choices, outrageous choices, comic choices, horrible choices, smart choices, stupid choices. Choices. Choices that align with sinning, choices that align with sainting, choices that have nothing to do with either. You know what people choose in the romance-less romance? Nothing. Well, that’s not quite true, but it’s nothing of any consequence and it’s hard to pretend otherwise, which brings me to the critical darling of the week, Past Lives.
This is a romance set in three different timeless, with three different pairs playing the same two non-lovers in three different places at three different stages of life. The common thread: it ain’t happenin’.
Let me adjust the above: only two sets of actors played the couple in three different timelines. The rest is 100% correct. Nora (Greta Lee as adult, Seung Ah Moon as child) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo as adult, Seung Min Yim as child) are the couple that just isn’t gonna happen. As kids, they are school rivals who walk home together. It looks like they’re getting close, but just as pairing seems likely, the camera turns off and cuts to twelve years later.
Now, instead of sharing a South Korean path home from school, Nora is in NYC while Hae Sung is still a student in Korea. They find one another over Skype and connect almost instantly, but when it comes to committing, well, nobody wants to make that sacrifice.
Twelve years after that, she’s married. So while Hae Sung is finally able to make the trip to the United States, there’s nothing there for him to conquer, nor for her to cede. It ain’t happenin’. It’s ok. 
Her husband Arthur (John Magaro) is a nice guy. We like that she’s found a nice guy.
Past Lives evades the obvious lack-of-plot with five levels of angst and the introduction of the concept “in-yeon.” In-yeon is sort of reincarnation bingo where meeting someone in one life means you’ve met them in a past life. Lovers are people who have met again and again and again in Past Lives. (Oooh, we have a title! See how that works?) It’s a nice concept. Very romantic. Maybe you want to show us the time period where Nora and Hae Sung are lovers, eh movie? Movie? No? Oh well.
I’m harshing on Past Lives for lack of plot. It deserves to be harshed upon for lack of plot. There ain’t none. There are barely plot points. And because little happens, Past Lives is longer than it ought to be and feels it. However, this film is beautiful and romantic in its own way. I see the appeal while resoundly rejecting the greatness. You can convince me a boring film is beautiful, but you’ll never convince me a boring film is great and that’s exactly where I am. If you are a fan of film, you will hear about Past Lives. I’m going to wait to see it again when I’ve been reincarnated at somebody who ain’t got much to do.
Hae Sung and Nora should be a pair
Because it’s obvious how much they both care
Yet while destiny is on call
These two come up small
In-yeon means there ain’t no there there
Rated PG-13, 2023 Minutes
Director: Celine Song (which sounds like something written on the director’s short list at the Grammys)
Writer: Celine Song
Genre: Romance-less romance
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Critics
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Plot-hounds
