PahePremium.in – Past Lives adalah film drama produksi AS – Korea Selatan yang digarap oleh sineas debutan Celine Song. Film ini dibintangi oleh Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, dan John Magaro. Past Lives melakukan debut tayangnya secara impresif di Sundance Film Festival pada awal tahun ini. Film ini belum lama ditayangkan melalui platform Prime Video setelah beberapa bulan tayang di teater secara terbatas. Apa yang ditawarkan film yang dipuji banyak pengamat film ini?
Nora (Lee) dan Hae-sung (Yoo) adalah pasangan yang sudah bersahabat sejak mereka cilik di Seoul. Nora pun pernah berujar pada orang tuanya bahwa ia akan menikahinya kelak. Namun takdir berkata lain, Nora berimigrasi ke AS bersama keluarganya dan hubungan mereka lepas begitu saja. Dua belas tahun berselang, kini Nora berkarir sebagai penulis dan Hae-sung baru saja menyelesaikan tugas wajib militernya. Nora mencoba mencari Hae-sung via medsos dan mengontaknya. Gayung bersambut. Hari-hari mereka diisi percakapan jarak jauh yang intim hingga suatu ketika Nora pun kembali memutus hubungan mereka.
Dibuka dengan adegan yang memikat di sebuah bar, Past Lives berkisah sederhana dan membumi. Kisahnya mencoba untuk mengeksplorasi hubungan asmara antara pria dan perempuan berselang lamanya waktu. Perasaan mereka tak berubah, namun situasi dan perasaan mereka sendiri yang justru mempermainkan mereka. Tak ada yang istimewa dari hubungan ini selain hanya “selipan” konsep reinkarnasi di dalamnya. Apakah seseorang di kehidupan masa lalu adalah bagian dari hidup kita sekarang, atau sebaliknya? Jutaan pertanyaan terus bergulir di benak dua tokohnya mempertanyakan takdir jika semuanya berjalan berbeda. Terlihat jika naskahnya begitu personal yang bisa jadi adalah pengalaman sang sineas sendiri yang juga menulis naskahnya. Seseorang mampu memahami kisah ini secara penuh jika pernah merasakan pengalaman yang sama.
Satu hal yang amat menarik dalam penyajian kisahnya adalah penggunaan elemen-elemen visual dalam mendeskripsikan secara simbolik adegannya. Kombinasi sinematografi terukur melalui komposisi serta elemen mise_en_scene seringkali memberi makna ganda (subteks). Sang sineas terlihat cerdik untuk mengolah beragam setting di sekitar, seperti jalanan pemukiman pada adegan di Seoul yang memperlihatkan Nora dan Hae-sung yang berjalan berlawanan ketika mereka terakhir berpisah. Setting Patung Liberty (simbol kebebasan) yang begitu megah digunakan saat Nora dan Hae-sung menikmati kebersamaan mereka di New York. Lalu satu shot berkelas ketika wahana komidi putar menjadi latar belakang Nora dan Hae-sung yang duduk berdampingan, secara brilian menggambarkan pikiran mereka yang terombang -ambing. Banyak shot senada digunakan jika kita jeli sewaktu menonton.
Past Lives menyajikan kisah personal yang mengeksplorasi tema “takdir” dengan gaya estetik elegan dan bersahaja. Sang sineas terbukti piawai dan memiliki selera berkelas dalam mengeksplorasi sisi visual pengadegannya. Selain itu, dua bintangnya juga turut mendukung kuat capaian naskah dan sajian visualnya. Greta Lee dan Tae Yoo bermain natural tanpa banyak ekspresi berlebihan dalam tiap adegan yang memiliki emosi tinggi. Chemistry keduanya terjalin apik dan dalam. Lalu bicara konsep “takdir” yang menjadi inti kisahnya, rasanya kurang memiliki eksekusi akhir yang menggigit. Melalui kemasan estetiknya, siapa pun tidak mengharap klimaks yang memuaskan. Namun, misteri tentang hidup, takdir, soulmate, ataupun reinkarnasi rupanya hanya sekadar wacana dalam kisahnya.
Past Lives is a US-South Korean drama film produced by debutant filmmaker Celine Song. This film stars Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, and John Magaro. Past Lives made its impressive debut at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. The film recently premiered on the Prime Video platform after several months in limited theaters. What does this film that has been praised by many observers of this film offer?
Nora (Lee) and Hae-sung (Yoo) are a couple who have been friends since they were little in Seoul. Nora once told her parents that she would marry him one day. But fate had other plans, Nora immigrated to the US with her family and their relationship just slipped away. Twelve years later, Nora is now a writer and Hae-sung has just finished his mandatory military service. Nora tries to find Hae-sung via social media and contacts him. Tit for tat. Their days were filled with intimate long-distance conversations until one day Nora broke off their relationship again.
Opening with an engaging scene in a bar, Past Lives’ story is simple and down-to-earth. The story tries to explore romantic relationships between men and women over time. Their feelings haven’t changed, but their own situation and feelings have played a trick on them. There is nothing special about this relationship apart from the “insert” concept of reincarnation in it. Was someone in a past life part of our life now, or vice versa? Millions of questions keep rolling in the minds of the two characters questioning fate if things had gone differently. It can be seen that the script is so personal that it could be the experience of the filmmaker himself who also wrote the script. One can fully understand this story if one has had the same experience.
One thing that is very interesting in the presentation of the story is the use of visual elements in symbolically describing the scene. The combination of measurable cinematography through composition and elements of mise_en_scene often gives a double meaning (subtext). The filmmaker looks smart in processing the various settings around him, such as the residential streets in the scene in Seoul which shows Nora and Hae-sung walking opposite each other when they were last separated. The magnificent setting of the Statue of Liberty (a symbol of freedom) is used when Nora and Hae-sung are enjoying their time together in New York. Then one classy shot when the merry-go-round rides into the backdrop of Nora and Hae-sung sitting side by side, brilliantly portraying their bobbing minds. Many similar shots are used if we are observant while watching.
Past Lives presents a personal story that explores the theme of “destiny” with an elegant and understated aesthetic approach. The filmmaker proved to be skilled and has classy taste in exploring the visual side of his scenes. In addition, the two stars also strongly support the achievements of the script and visual presentation. Greta Lee and Tae Yoo play naturally without too much expression in each scene that has high emotions. The chemistry between the two is slick and deep. Then talking about the concept of “destiny” which is the core of the story, it feels like it lacks a biting final execution. Through its aesthetic packaging, no one expects a satisfying climax. However, the mystery of life, destiny, soulmate, or reincarnation seems to be just a discourse in the story.
