In-Yeon is the powerful idea that every human interaction is meaningful and purposeful in the grand scheme of things. Learn more about this insightful concept and how it is illustrated in the movie “Past Lives.”
Films have long been an avenue for exploring the truth behind human nature and delving into the intricacies of human emotions, relationships, and the mysteries of existence itself. The new 2023 movie “Past Lives,” by South Korean-Canadian director and writer Celine Song, is one excellent example.
The movie centers around the story of two childhood friends from South Korea who re-connect 24 years later. It begins with the protagonist Nora immigrating to Canada with her family at a young age, leaving everything she’s ever known behind including her original Korean name and close childhood connection Hae Sung.
Both characters go on with their lives and continue on their separate paths. They grow up. Nora pursues a writing career in NYC, while Hae Sung joins the military in Korea. By chance, they both re-connect via Facebook ten years later and begin chatting with each other every day, reminiscing on memories and remembering why they were both drawn to each other. They both agree to visit each other sometime soon, but plans fall through and they eventually cut off contact with each other again.
Fast forward another 10 years, Nora is now married and living in NYC as a playwright and Hae Sung is dating someone new in Korea while working as an engineer. They haven’t talked to each other since, but Hae Sung reaches out again after planning a visit to the United States. After all these lost years, they finally meet up again in person and explore their new lives and what could’ve been.
From a film critic’s perspective, the movie “Past Lives” is very well-done and one of the best movies of the year. It’s filled with beautiful cinematography, great acting, and a thought-provoking premise that leaves the audience introspecting on their own lives and lost relationships over the years.
One central concept in the film is the idea of in-yeon, which ties into the title “Past Lives” and touches on the idea of the eternal connections we build in this world. The rest of this article will dive deeper into this concept as it is described in the movie and the implications it has on all of our relationships.
In-Yeon: Past Lives and Eternal Connections
In the film, Nona initially describes in-yeon as a type of “providence” or “fate.”
The concept is introduced when Nona first meets her future husband Arthur at a writer’s retreat in Montauk. She says it’s a Buddhist idea that when you meet someone, even briefly, your lives become intertwined in an eternal connection. When these paths cross enough times, even in past lives, it can lead to love or marriage. The basic idea is an interconnectedness of souls across multiple lifetimes.
An in-yeon can be any small connection between two people, including eye contact, a friendly exchange of words at a bus stop, or a brushing up against one’s clothes as you walk past them on a crowded street.
This is a meaningful way to look at the world, because even brief encounters (or 10 second relationships) are viewed as purposeful events that are part of a much bigger picture even if you never meet the person again in this lifetime.
When Nona and Hae Sung finally meet again after 24 years, she is already married to Arthur, leaving little room for them to rekindle a romantic connection. Her husband plays a crucial role in the film, because he starts to become insecure and reflects on all the “What if?” scenarios.
Arthur begins asking questions such as, “What if you met someone else like me at Montauk and married them?” and “How can I stop a love story as beautiful as you re-connecting with a lost childhood friend?”
Life is filled with many potential paths and at any point things may have worked out differently between them. Nona tries to comfort him by saying, “But those things didn’t happen. And I married you.”
The film ends perfectly. You should watch it for yourself, but here are the spoilers…
Nothing romantic happens between them and no boundaries are crossed.
At the end of his visit, they go their separate ways again, but at the end Hae Sung asks, “What if this is a past life as well, and we are already something else to each other in our next life?” She simply responds, “I don’t know.”
He says, “See you then” and gets into his cab for the airport. She walks away, begins crying, and is warmly embraced by her husband waiting for her outside.
It’s a very touching moment and it’s bound to leave a lasting impression on anyone that has a heart.
While I generally advise against magical thinking in our relationships, especially the idea that there is only one “perfect partner” or “soulmate” for you, the film’s superstitious themes serve a very practical and meaningful purpose.
According to the in-yeon concept, “Every relationship is meaningful and no connection is ever lost.”
That can be a very comforting thought when we find ourselves in the whirlwind of relationships. It fosters deep acceptance for everything that happens in our lives and helps us find closure when relationships don’t work out or go their separate ways.
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