Celine Song crafted the best love story of 2023 in her feature debut,Past Lives. Written and directed by Song,Past Livesexplores the relationship between Nora Moon (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo), two childhood soulmates who drift apart over the next two decades while reuniting for seminal moments in their lives. It all comes to a head during one fateful weekend in New York City as Nora and Hae Sung confront their feelings toward one another and contemplate what could have been.
Past Livesrode the momentum of its critical reception and box office success throughout the awards season. ThePast Livescampaign paid off when the film received two Oscar nominations: Best Original Screenplay (Song) and Best Picture. If you enjoyedPast Lives, these three films should be next on your watch list. Selections include a beautiful independent drama from 2022, a love story set in the 1970s, and a coming-of-age tale featuring a rising star.
Aftersun (2022)
Paul Mescal loves to make people cry. The talented actor frequently plays sad, devastating men who bring us to tears. Connell inNormal People, Harry inAll of Us Strangers, and Calum inAftersunare what we’ll call Mescal’s “sad men trio.” LikePast Lives,Aftersunis a quiet, beautiful movie that explores love and acceptance at one of our most vulnerable times, childhood.
In the late 1990s, 11-year-old Sophie (Frankie Corio) takes a memorable holiday to a Turkish resort with her young father Calum (Mescal). Throughout the vacation, Sophie comes of age as she approaches adolescence, while Calum grapples with depression and the challenges presented by fatherhood.Aftersunis told from the perspective of an adult Sophie (Celia Rowlson-Hall) as she pieces together what she remembers about her father. You’ll never look at Queen’sUnder Pressurethe same way again.
StreamAftersunonShowtime.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Paul Thomas Andersonloves to explore flawed characters and dysfunctional families. WhileLicorice Pizzadepicts a complicated and messy romance, the 2021 coming-of-age film is arguably PTA’s sweetest film on his resume. In the San Fernando Valley in 1973, Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) is a 15-year-old actor with an affinity for 25-year-old photographer assistant Alana Kane (Alana Haim).
Undeterred by the age gap, Gary asks Alana to dinner, which she reluctantly accepts. While Gary yearns for a romantic relationship, Alana keeps things platonic. The two friends team up for multiple business ventures, notably a waterbed store. Despite being at different stages in life, Gary and Alana are inseparable, no matter how many times they try to break away.Licorice Pizzais a funny and charming tale of young love featuring two star-making performances from Hoffman and Haim.
StreamLicorice PizzaonPrime Video.
Shithouse (2020)
Cooper Raiff (Cha Cha Real Smooth) is the spiritual son of Richard Linklater. Raiff’s directorial debut,Shithouse, combines the hangout nature ofDazed and Confusedwith the walk-and-talk dialogue of the Before trilogy. Written, directed, and produced by Raiff,Shithouseis a coming-of-age story about Alex (Raiff), a homesick college freshman struggling to fit in.
One night, Alex attends a party at the “Shithouse” fraternity and meets sophomore Maggie (Dylan Gelula), who serves as his residential advisor. Throughout the night, Alex and Maggie open up to each other about their insecurities and form a genuine connection.Shithouseis a brilliant directorial debut from Raiff, who expertly captures the anxieties that many young adults face when away from home for the first time. Don’t let the name fool you.Shithouseis sincere as it gets.
