Past Lives
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This movie made me feel really emotional. As someone who moved to the U.S. from another country at a similar age to the protagonist, I related to her immensely - taking on an American identity, chasing career success, balancing two cultures, and reckoning with the past life that she left behind.
Most immigrants embrace their new future and rarely have a chance to come face to face with the other version of the life that could have been had they not left their home country. However, in this movie, the protagonist is given a chance to explore this “what if” via her childhood crush who visits her in NYC. I find the dialogue between these two characters so nostalgic and pure. Although my life in the U.S. has presented better opportunities to me, I felt sad to be reminded of the things that I gave up that I rarely think about: time not spent with family members, heritage and history not explored, and friendships lost.
I also love the mature love portrayed by the protagonist’s husband. He gives her the space to explore her feelings, reconnect with an old crush, reminisce about her past life. Understandably, he seems to feel a little bit of insecurity about the presence of the childhood crush, but he doesn’t make it about himself. And he is there to support and hug her when she cries after her childhood crush leaves. I find that so beautiful.