Celine Song believes that her film ‘Past Lives’ demonstrates how memories have the ability to defy the laws of physics. The movie, which has been highly praised as one of the year’s best, tells the story of Nora and Hae Sung, two childhood crushes from South Korea who are separated when Nora moves to Canada at 12 years old.
‘Past Lives’ follows their lives at 12-year intervals, documenting their reconnection through the internet and a later in-person reunion in New York after Nora has married a fellow writer. According to Celine Song, age 35, the laws of time and space are unchangeable, and we all experience them at the same speed.
However, Song suggests that through our ability to imagine people we knew in the past, we can exist outside of time and space. In an interview, she explains that if someone who knew you as a child were asked about your younger self, they could instantly transport themselves back in time and see you as a 12-year-old.
She finds this ability to tap into different moments in a person’s story across time and space truly remarkable. Song envisions a future where she reflects on her career and can recount the initial meeting with the interviewer, witnessing the progression of time and the moments they shared.
Celine Song also reveals her love for checking the ticket sales of ‘Past Lives’ in cinemas. She enjoys observing the audience and where they choose to sit. Whether it’s only a few individuals or couples attending, she finds it a special experience to witness the film being watched.
She hopes that after watching the movie, people will engage in conversation or perhaps never cross paths again.