Film director recognized as one of the first contenders for the title of film of the year Celine Song directorial debut past lives is a romantic drama that spans decades, continents and multiple relationships. Backed by renowned independent studio A24, known for bridging the gap between monolithic contemporary blockbusters and low-budget indie films. past lives was presented at the Sundance Film Festival this year, where it made a strong first impression.

Released exclusively in theaters, past lives stars Greta Lee Yu Theo And John Magaro, and follows the fateful reunion of two childhood friends as they reflect on their relationship and the trajectory of their lives. Heartbreakingly romantic and masterfully crafted in every sense of the word, past lives will leave audiences hungry for more, so with that in mind, here are ten of the best films like past lives.

10 ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ (2019)

portrait of a lady on fire
Image via NEON

Written and directed by a talented French director. Celine Siamma, Portrait of a lady on fire tells the story of lesbian love between an aristocrat named Eloise (Adele Aenel) and Marianne (Noemi Merlan), an artist who was hired to create her portrait. Set almost entirely on the desert coast of Brittany, France, the film creates a dense atmosphere of longing, desire, and even fear as its characters fall into a temporary sense of freedom in their brief isolation.

Among all the loose hair, ruined linens and scattered nightgowns, Portrait of a lady on fire It is a profound film that showcases the heartbreaking reality of the 18th century woman it portrays and was the first film directed by a woman to win the Queer Palm award at the famed Cannes Film Festival.

9 “Worst Man in the World” (2021)

Worst-man-in-the-world
Image via SF Studios

Led by Scandinavian screenwriter-director Joachim Trier, The worst person in the world follows the four years of Julie, a young woman living in Oslo, as she navigates the murky waters of her troubled relationships, passionate new love adventures, and the awkwardness of finding footing in a new career path.

Closing Trier’Oslo trilogy‘, Worst person stands out as a crowning triumph, with a more hopeful and light-hearted tone compared to its predecessors, becoming the most accessible of the three films.

8 “Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy” (2021)

Characters hugging in Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy

Three stories about misunderstanding, failed seduction and unexpected love, Japanese writer-director Ryusuke Hamaguchi Wheel of fortune and fantasy is a beautifully written anthology that depicts three separate women on the trajectories of their choices and regrets.

Smaller in scale than Hamaguchidrive my carwhich was also released in 2021, Fortune and fantasy seems to have almost completely escaped the attention of the critics. As principal photography begins in 2019, it will be two long years before Hamaguchi’s ode to the contrasting elements of fate and the coincidences associated with falling in love is finally brought to the public.

7 “Marriage Story” (2019)

marriage story-scarlett-johansson-adam-driver
Image via TIFF

A brutally honest window into the crushing falls experienced when a marriage falls apart, Marriage history possibly writer-director Noah Baumbach magnum opus. Tough and gritty in its approach, the film never shirks the hardships Charlie’s married couple face.Adam Driver) and Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) as they struggle to keep their family together.

Based on an Oscar-winning screenplay by Baumbach. Marriage history rises to even greater heights thanks to the powerful performance of Driver and Johansson, who flawlessly embody their character’s emotional journey through their fateful divorce.

6 “One Fine Morning” (2022)

one fine morning-pascal-gregory-lea-seydoux

The latest film from the award-winning director Mia Hansen-Löwe, One Good morning was the subject of high praise and rave reviews upon its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. A touching story of love and parenthood One fine morning follows Sandra (Lea Seydoux), a widow who single-handedly raises her daughter while caring for her ailing father.

This story of parenthood, set in France, quickly takes a turn when it’s very similar to Past lives Sandra unexpectedly stumbles upon an old friend she hasn’t seen in years, and although he’s married, the old friends rekindle an old connection, leading to passionate love.

5 “Call Me By Your Name” (2017)

call me by your name

The action takes place in the summer of 1983, right under the scorching Italian sun. call me by your name tells the gripping story of a sudden romance between a teenage boy named Elio and a graduate student hired to help his father over the summer. Initially feigning indifference towards each other when they meet, the pair eventually fall into intense emotional entanglement as they try to make up for the rest of the summer.

Based André Aciman 2007 novel of the same name call me by your name was adapted for the big screen by an Italian-born directorLuca Guadagnino, who made the creative decision to make the film in 1983 rather than 1987 as in the novel. Guadagnino also continued to work with the star. Timothy Chalamet moreagain for his 2022 romance/horror movie Bones and all.

4 “Before Midnight” (2013)

Jessie and Celine in Before Midnight
Image via Sony Pictures Classics

A deep dive into the difficult changes that relationships face after the initial romantic spark has faded. Until midnight hats from the writer-director Richard Linklater Before the trilogy like JessieEthan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) are faced with married life at the age of forty, now they are more skeptical about their life together than ever.

In keeping with tradition, the film once again takes place within a 24-hour window, this time in Greece, when Jessie and Celine are vacationing with their two twin daughters. This time with Hawke and Delpy as writers. Until midnight is a deeply personal finale for the top stars.

3 “Decision to Leave” (2022)

Man and woman look at each other in the decision to leave

When South Korean detective Hae Joon (Park Hae Il) begins to investigate the death of a local resident, he falls in love with his main suspect. When this infatuation turns into an obsession, Hae-Joon must decide if everything is as he thinks he knows about the case as it seems.

Although the romance is completely different from what you see in other films on this list, Park Chan Wook The decision to leave delivers a compelling and deep narrative that juxtaposes charming sweet introductions with heartbreaking revelations to expertly craft a timeless romance without the use of almost any physical intimacy.

2 ‘Blue caftan’ (2022)

The love triangle begins at the dinner table

Mariam Touzani Blue caftan it’s a tender observation of love, life and death that follows a middle-aged tailor and his wife as their relationship is turned on its head after the arrival of a handsome new apprentice. Gradually realizing how touched her husband was by the young man’s presence, Mina (Lubna Azabal) starts inviting Youssef (Ayub Missiui) into the fabric of her present and future life of her husband.

Morocco’s official entry for the 95th Academy Awards 2023 in the Best International Film category. Blue caftan is an impressive piece of Arabic storytelling that slowly unfolds before the audience through many fleeting glances.

1 “Drive My Car” (2022)

drive my car
“Drive My Car” (2021)

Ryusuke Hamaguchi announces himself as the new master of Japanese cinema with drive my carslow meditative drama in which theater director Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima) mourns the death of his wife. After reluctantly agreeing to be the chauffeur of the almost mute silent Misaki (Toko Miura), a new affinity blossoms, and Misaki’s secret past is revealed.

Even though its three-hour runtime consists almost entirely of leisurely scenes that rarely deviate from a full focus on dialogue, drive my car is able to immerse the audience in its story, clear direction and authentic work of the actors, and not drive them into the trap of boredom.