Past Lives12A

Directed by Celine Song | South Korea/USA | 2023 | 1h 46m | Korean w/ English subtitles | Starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, John Magaro, Moon Seung-ah, Leem Seung-min

Inseparable childhood friends Nora and Hae Sun are wrest apart when Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Twenty years later they are reunited in New York for one week. During this time, they come face to face with their shared history and the fateful decisions of their lives. This outstanding debut feature by Celine Song is a beautifully acted and deeply romantic modern love story that embraces destiny, nostalgia, and the immigrant experience.

Reviews

‘A transcendent debut for South Korean-Canadian filmmaker Celine Song, this romantic drama is a masterclass in slow, simmering storytelling. It will stay with you, maybe even into your next life.’
★★★★★
Nick De Semlyen, Empire Magazine

‘This heart-meltingly romantic and sad movie from Korean-Canadian dramatist and film-maker Celine Song left me wrung out and empty and weirdly euphoric…It’s a must-see.’
★★★★★
Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Book tickets

Friday 29 September

3.45pmBook tickets
Tuesday 3 October

8.30pmBook tickets
Thursday 5 October

Parent + Baby Screening

12.30pmBook tickets
Thursday 5 October

6.00pmBook tickets

What else is on?

Today (Friday 29th September)

15:45

Past Lives 12A
1h 46m | Korean w/ English subtitles
Celine Song's critically-acclaimed and deeply romantic feature debut about two childhood friends from South Korea who reunite for one week in New York after two decades spent apart.

Book here

18:15

Once Upon a Time in Uganda 15
1h 34m
Playful documentary looking at the world of “Wakaliwood”, Uganda's own DIY action movie industry, and the creative endeavours of bricklayer-turned-filmmaker, Isaac Nabwana.

Book here

20:30

Love Life 12A
2h 3m | Japanese & Korean w/ English subtitles
An intricately plotted domestic drama following a Japanese couple whose marriage is thrown into question following a sequence of fateful events. Directed by the award-winning filmmaker Kôji Fukada.

Book here


Tomorrow (Saturday 30th September)

15:00

Love Life 12A
2h 3m | Japanese & Korean w/ English subtitles
An intricately plotted domestic drama following a Japanese couple whose marriage is thrown into question following a sequence of fateful events. Directed by the award-winning filmmaker Kôji Fukada.

Book here

18:00

Cli-Fi: Everything is Connected 12A
The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities presents a screening of two films from the Experimental Film and Media and Art school at Berlin University of the Arts. Followed by post-screening conversation.

Book here

21:00

Serpico 15
2h 10m
Al Pacino stars in this gripping crime drama based on the true story of Frank Serpico, the NYPD police officer who risked his life to expose corruption within the police department.

Book here


Plan your visit

Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road. We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We don’t show adverts, just a couple of trailers, so don't be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!