Crafted and directed by Celine Song, "Past Lives" tells a moving love story about childhood friends Nora and Hae Sung. More than friends as kids in South Korea, Nora and Hae Sung are separated as Nora's family decides to emigrate to the US. Twenty years later, they meet again by chance. Notwithstanding her marriage with Arthur, Nora spends a week with Hae Sung, exploring themes of love and destiny. They wonder what might have been if Nora had stayed. The movie features exceptional performances by a talented cast. Celine Song's directorial journey begins on the outskirts of Seoul, where we see 12-year-old Nora and Hae Sung sharing long walks before Nora moves to Canada with her family. The story then moves to New York City, where we see the evolution of their friendship over two decades.
Explore the various filming locations where the bittersweet tales of "Past Lives" unfold. From Seoul to New York, we have compiled a list for the fans to sink their teeth into.
All the scenes from the childhood of Nora and Hae Sung are shot around the parks, neighbourhoods and other landmarks of Seoul. The film brings about the traditional Korean urban architecture dominated by narrow alleys and staircases that wind through passage between houses. The setting is of the 1990s and a rather nostalgic impressions emitted from the locales.
In one of the scenes, we witness Nora and Hae Sung dawdling at the MMCA Outdoor Sculpture Park. They move about the green patch and are seen doing antics around the iconic sculpture "A New Gaze on the Being" by Lee Il-Ho.
There are quite a few other major museums in Seoul that you must visit when in the city. The National Museum of Korea is a spacious and airy museum with a rich collection that must not be missed out on. The National Folk Museum of Korea is another gem that gives an overview of everyday life and people throughout the history of Korea. You can also check out the Gyeongbokgung Palace as well as The War Memorial of Korea.
MMCA Outdoor Sculpture Park address: South Korea, Gyeonggi-do, Gwacheon-si, Makgye-dong, 산58-4
Timings: 9 am to 6 pm
In a scene, we find Nora's husband Arthur, who is an author, signing books at a bookstore in New York. The bookstore that serves as the spot for Arthur's book-signing in the film is McNally Jackson Books located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It is a two-story bookstore that has been functional since January 2018. The bookstore has a widely rich collection of literature, including art books and children's books.
Address: 76 N 4th St Unit G, Brooklyn, NY 11249, United States
Timings: 10 am to 8 pm
The film's act three scene is shot in the famous Madison Square Park in front of a wall featuring two etchings of figures facing away from each other. Madison Square Park is a 6.2-acre public square in New York City's Manhattan borough. It's located at the intersection of Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street, and is named after James Madison, the fourth president of the United States. The park has been public land since 1686 and has played a role in the city's history. It features playground swings, slides, spacious dog run, public restrooms and many other attractions. It is also home to various art installations including The Flatiron Building and Met Life Tower. The park is a great getaway for picnics.
Address: 11 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, United States
Timings: 6 am to 11 pm
Many scenes in the film revolve around the locales of New York City including bars, bridges and parks. While in the first act, the friends as kids go on a playdate in MMCA in Seoul, the cycle comes full circle when they meet at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in the third act of the film. MoMA, located in Manhattan, has a wildly rich collections of artworks including The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, Calude Monet's Water Lilies, Paul Cezanne's The Bather and Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, among others.
In their reunion, Nora and Hae Sung also take a ferry ride around the Statue of Liberty. The ferry rides and bus tours are among New York City's most famous attractions and take you through the most popular sites on an open-top hop-on hop-off bus or a slow-paced ferry. The route goes through landmarks such as Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square.
Museum of Modern Art address: 11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019, USA
Timings: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
As Nora and Hae Sung catch up and explore the themes of love and destiny in their conversations, they also visit Jane's Carousel. Situated in Brooklyn Bridge Park, Jane's Carousel is a classic three-row carousel with two chariots and 48 intricately carved horses that was built in 1922 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company for Idora Park in Youngstown, Ohio. Itwas added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. After decades of restoration, it opened to the public in 2011. The carousel is open year-round.
Address: 1 Old, Dock St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States
Timings: 11 am to 5:50 pm