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Past Lives

Parents guide · ClearAge age 13+ · Official M

Movie 2023 106 min Drama, Romance Checked by Dan S · 13 Oct 2026
Official Rating M ClearAge 13+

What we flagged

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Sex and Nudity
Mild
Language
Mild

Our take

Nora and Hae Sung were close as children, then life took them to different countries. Their reunion as adults is quiet and full of things left unsaid. There is little here to alarm a teen; the drinking is light and the language mild. We put it at 13 because the romance and regret are grown-up, and younger kids may struggle with its pace.

Uplifting themes

It treats choices, immigration, and love with patience and respect, and shows people being honest about complicated feelings. Characters talk and listen without cruelty Nora, Hae Sung, and her husband Arthur handle an awkward situation with kindness and honesty. Nobody turns nasty or tries to cause harm Introduces the Korean idea of in-yun, or fate between people, and shows what leaving a home country can cost. A good start for talking about immigration and identity

Story (may spoil tone)

After decades apart, childhood friends Nora and Hae Sung are reunited in New York for one fateful weekend as they confront notions of destiny, love, and the choices that make a life.

What we flagged

View all categories

Sex and Nudity
Mild
Language
Mild

Details

Language Mild A couple of mild swears, like the s-word, slip out in casual moments. M…

A couple of mild swears, like the s-word, slip out in casual moments. Most of the dialogue is gentle, in English and Korean with subtitles

Sex / nudity Mild Romantic longing is the heart of the story, with a married couple talki…

Romantic longing is the heart of the story, with a married couple talking in bed and a few mentions of an ex or old flame. Nothing explicit is shown

Drugs / alcohol Mild Characters have drinks at bars and dinners, and the film treats it as a…

Characters have drinks at bars and dinners, and the film treats it as an ordinary part of adult life. Drinking is never the focus

Grief / bereavement Mild There is quiet loss throughout, from a family leaving its home country…

There is quiet loss throughout, from a family leaving its home country to a friendship that fades over years. The sadness can linger, especially in a final goodbye

Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.

We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.

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Talk after watching

  • Nora and Hae Sung talk about in-yun, the idea that people meet for a reason. Do you believe in fate, or in choices?
  • Arthur and Nora have an honest talk about a hard situation. What makes a conversation like that possible?