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. Nominated for 3 BAFTA Awards, including Best Original Screenplay.

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

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Past Lives between September 22, 2023 and January 27, 2024.

Join our mailing list and we'll make sure you always know what's on and when.

What else is on?

Today (Tuesday 13th May)
Find out more

18:00

The Ugly Stepsister 18
£6 for Members
1h 45m | Norwegian w/ English subtitles
In a fairy-tale kingdom, Elvira’s jealousy drives her to horrifying extremes. This bold Cinderella reimagining fuses dark folklore with unsettling body horror, exposing the ruthless pressures of beauty in a grotesque, feminist fairytale.

Book here

Find out more

20:30

April 15
£6 for Members
2h 14m | Georgian w/ English subtitles
A Georgian obstetrician’s life unravels when she’s accused of malpractice. Dea Kulumbegashvili’s gripping drama examines autonomy, gender, and power in an isolated community, delivering a poignant exploration of one woman’s fight for justice.

Book here


Tomorrow (Wednesday 14th May)
Find out more

15:00

April 15
2h 14m | Georgian w/ English subtitles
A Georgian obstetrician’s life unravels when she’s accused of malpractice. Dea Kulumbegashvili’s gripping drama examines autonomy, gender, and power in an isolated community, delivering a poignant exploration of one woman’s fight for justice.

Book here

Find out more

18:00

Bogancloch Cert-TBC
1h 26m
Set in the Scottish Highlands, Bogancloch is a poetic 16mm portrait of hermit Jake Williams. A dreamlike meditation on solitude, nature, and music followed by an exclusive Q&A with director Ben Rivers at this special preview screening.

Book here

Find out more

20:45

Sinners 15
2h 18m
Twin brothers seek a fresh start in their 1930s Southern hometown but uncover an evil lurking beneath the surface. Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan reunite for this chilling supernatural thriller set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow-era South.

Book here


See all upcoming films

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!

Find out more