If you loved
Past Lives
Celine Song · Film · 2023
If Past Lives moved you, it is because you are drawn to the quiet, agonizing beauty of wondering about the paths not taken.
Books on the same thread
If He Had Been with Me
Laura Nowlin · Book · 2019
Shares a thread with Past Lives: Missed Connections.
Like the central relationship in Past Lives, this story examines how our deepest connections from childhood continue to haunt and shape our adult lives through an lens of lingering regret.
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig · Book · 2020
Explores: Regret, Second Chances, Existentialism.
This novel echoes the existential inquiry of Past Lives, offering a profound exploration of how the choices we make define our existence and the lives we leave behind.
North Woods
Daniel Mason · Book · 2023
Explores: Nature vs. Nurture, The passage of time, Memory and Legacy.
Much like the sweeping, contemplative nature of Past Lives, this narrative captures the passage of time and the weight of legacy as it observes the small, human moments of history.
The Lost Bookshop
Evie Woods · Book · 2023
Explores: Books about books, Hidden history, Second chances.
If the themes of destiny and self-discovery in Past Lives resonated with you, you will appreciate this story about characters finding their way back to themselves through the magic of chance.
Series on the same thread
Love Next Door
Yu Je-won · Series · 2024
Shares a thread with Past Lives: Cultural Identity.
This series mirrors the childhood-friends-to-lovers dynamic of Past Lives, grounding the emotional complexity of reunion and cultural nostalgia in a story about two people navigating their shared, complicated history.
Hidden Love
Series · 2023
Explores: First Love, Childhood Crush, Reunion Romance.
Fans of the slow-burn emotional tension in Past Lives will recognize the bittersweet pull of fate and the transformative power of a second chance in this tender reunion romance.
Podcasts on the same thread
This American Life
This American Life · Podcast · 2026
Explores: The human condition, Personal narrative, Social observation.
Just as Past Lives finds deep significance in the human condition, this podcast curates personal narratives that turn ordinary, intimate moments into stories that feel as cinematic as a film.
Heavyweight
Podcast
Explores: regret, reconciliation, second chances.
If you were moved by the delicate reconciliation in Past Lives, this podcast provides a similar exploration of the messy, painful, and necessary work of revisiting the past to find closure.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Past Lives a story about childhood friends?
Yes, Past Lives follows the relationship between Nora and Hae Sung, who were childhood friends. The film explores their reunion in New York after being separated for decades, focusing on the impact of time and the choices that define the lives they lead.
What is the central theme of Past Lives?
Past Lives centers on the concepts of destiny, love, and the choices that shape a person's life. The narrative examines how Nora and Hae Sung confront these themes during their fateful weekend reunion in New York after having been apart for decades.
Does Past Lives take place in New York?
Yes, a significant portion of Past Lives occurs in New York. The film depicts the reunion of Nora and Hae Sung in the city, where they spend a fateful weekend together reflecting on their past and the paths their lives have taken.
How long have Nora and Hae Sung been apart in Past Lives?
In Past Lives, Nora and Hae Sung have been separated for decades. The film tracks their reunion as adults in New York, where they confront the reality of their long separation and the different life choices they have made since their childhood together.