John Maguire on Film: Celine Song’s debut Past Lives allows complex truth of love to shine through

Past Lives

Directed by Celine Song

Nationwide, 12A

Rating: ****

Past Lives, the debut feature from Korean-Canadian writer and director Celine Song, opens with a spot of people-watching in a New York bar. As we look across the counter, three patrons are sitting side by side. A man and a woman both of Asian descent have their heads together, chatting and laughing. The other man, who is white, sits smilingly silent.

We hear hushed voices ...