Past Lives (2023)

John Magaro: Arthur

Photos 

Quotes 

• Arthur : You dream in a language I can't understand. It's like there's this whole place inside you I can't go.

• Arthur : You make my world so much bigger and I'm wondering if I do the same for you?

• Arthur : Our story's just so boring. We met at an artists' residency. Slept together because we both happened to be single. We realize we both live in New York, so we move in together to save money on rent. We got married so you could get a green card. So...

  Nora : Oh, you make it sound so romantic.

  Arthur : Right, that's what I'm saying. I'm the guy you leave in the story when your ex-lover comes to take you away.

  Nora : He's not my ex-lover.

• Arthur : That guy flew 13 hours to be here. I'm not gonna tell you that you can't see him or something. He's your childhood sweetheart. And it's not like you're gonna run away with him. Are you?

• Arthur : I was just thinking about what a good story this is.

  Nora : The story of Hae Sung and me?

  Arthur : Yeah. I just can't compete.

  Nora : What do you mean?

  Arthur : Childhood sweethearts who reconnect 20 years later only to realize they were meant for each other.

  Nora : [referring to Hae Sung]  We're not meant for each other.

  Arthur : I know. I know. In the story, I would be the evil white American husband standing in the way of destiny.

• Arthur : You dream in a language that I can't understand. It's like there's this whole place inside of you where I can't go. I think that's why I've been trying to learn Korean, even though I know it's annoying for you.

  Nora : You want to understand me when I'm dreaming?

  Arthur : Yeah.

  Nora : I'm sure I'm just saying gibberish.

• Nora : There is a word in Korean. In-Yun. It means providence. Or... fate. But it's specifically about relationships between people. I think it comes from... Buddhism. And... reincarnation. It's an 'in-yun' if two strangers even walk by each other in the street and their clothes accidentally brush. Because... it means there must have been something between them in their past lives. If two people get married... they say it's because there have been 8000 layers of in-yun. Over 8000 lifetimes.

  Arthur : You believe in that?

  Nora : Believe what?

  Arthur : That... you and I knew each other in another life.

  Nora : What, because we are sitting here... at the same table, in the same city, at the same time?

  Arthur : Yeah, wouldn't that make this... In-yun?

  Nora : That's just something Koreans say to seduce someone.

  [they kiss]