Arts·Q with Tom Power

Past Lives director Celine Song shares the real-life moment that inspired the film's nuanced love story

Song's debut feature, Past Lives, tells the story of a Korean woman who emigrated to Canada as a child, and how her life becomes unsettled when her childhood sweetheart from Seoul shows up in New York where she now lives with her American husband.

The Canadian playwright sits down with Q's Tom Power to discuss her debut feature film

Head shot of Celine Song smiling and sitting at a wood table in front of a studio microphone.
Celine Song in the Q studio in Toronto. (Vivian Rashotte/CBC)

Celine Song is an acclaimed Canadian playwright, but now she's turned her talents to film. Her debut feature, Past Lives, tells the story of a Korean woman who emigrated to Canada as a child, and how her life becomes unsettled when her childhood sweetheart from Seoul shows up in New York where she now lives with her American husband. The film received a lot of buzz after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Song sat down with Tom Power in the Q studio to tell us more.

WATCH | Official trailer for Past Lives:

The full interview with Celine Song is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.


Interview with Celine Song produced by Ben Edwards.