It’s easy to see why people are drawing comparisons between Past Lives (2023) and 96 (2018).
At first glance, both films orbit around similar emotional poles: childhood love, separation by time and geography, and a poignant reunion. But are they actually cut from the same cinematic cloth?
Spoiler: Past Lives is not a remake of 96. But the overlap in themes has certainly stirred up conversation, especially among fans who hold a soft spot for romantic stories that lean more toward emotional realism than fairy-tale endings.
Let’s unpack the connections—and more importantly, the differences.
So What’s Past Lives About, Exactly?
Written and directed by Korean-Canadian playwright Celine Song, Past Lives is a deeply personal and contemplative film.
It follows Nora, played by Greta Lee, and Hae Sung, played by Teo Yoo, childhood friends who were separated when Nora’s family emigrated from South Korea to Canada.
Fast-forward twenty years, and the two reconnect first online and, eventually, in person, sparking an exploration of love, longing, and the haunting question of “what could’ve been.”
The film is more than a romantic drama; it’s a quiet meditation on fate, identity, and how people evolve over time. The concept of inyun, a Korean idea about the ties that bind people over lifetimes, grounds the story in spiritual depth and cultural nuance.
A Quick Recap of 96: The Indian Love Letter to Nostalgia
On the other side of the globe, 96 tells the story of Ram and Janaki, two high school sweethearts who meet again after 22 years at a school reunion.
Their reunion is tender, awkward, and emotionally loaded. Ram, now a travel photographer, and Janaki, now married and living abroad, never really moved on from each other emotionally, even if life forced them to, logistically.
Directed by C. Prem Kumar, 96 resonated with Indian audiences for its relatable characters, the natural performances of Vijay Sethupathi and Trisha Krishnan were phenomenal, and the pitch-perfect soundtrack made the nostalgia even more gut-wrenching.
Where the Comparisons Begin and End
Yes, both films focus on reunions, old flames, and unspoken feelings. But beyond that surface-level similarity, the storytelling is entirely different.
1. Narrative Style
Past Lives kind of unfolds in three separate parts, and it’s got this really calm, unhurried pace. It’s more about showing how the characters change on the inside, you know?.
96 unfolds mostly in the present, peppered with flashbacks to the protagonists’ school days, highlighting moments that were formative and sweetly naive.
2. Cultural Lens
While Past Lives leans heavily into Korean philosophy and the immigrant experience, 96 is deeply rooted in South Indian culture, complete with school uniforms, local slang, and the unmistakable hum of Indian nostalgia.
3. Endgame Dynamics
One of the biggest distinctions lies in how both films handle closure. 96 teases the audience with hope and heartbreak in equal measure but ultimately settles on realism.
Past Lives, though similarly subtle, focuses more on existential reflection rather than the romantic outcome.
Why People Think It’s a Remake And Why It’s Not
The core emotional DNA of both films is so similar that it’s easy to assume that one might have inspired the other. But Celine Song has never cited 96 as an influence.
In fact, Past Lives is semi-autobiographical, drawn from Song’s own experiences and questions about identity, past relationships, and cultural belonging.
In contrast, 96 was inspired by the idea of what it would feel like to run into a lost love decades later, an almost universal fantasy.
The fact that these films arrived at similar conclusions independently just goes to show how universally human those feelings are.
Critical Reception: Two Stories, One Impact
Both films have been showered with critical acclaim, albeit in different parts of the world.
Past Lives premiered at Sundance and Berlin and later received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Critics praised its emotional honesty and Greta Lee’s nuanced performance as Nora.
96, on the other hand, became a sleeper hit in India. Despite its low-key release, it touched a chord with audiences and has since gained cult status.
It also sparked remakes in Telugu (Jaanu) and Kannada (99), proving just how powerful its story was.
Does It Really Matter If They’re Alike?
Here’s the real takeaway: Even if Past Lives and 96 shares thematic resonance, that doesn’t diminish either of them. If anything, it highlights how cross-cultural storytelling can tap into the same emotional veins.
In an age where remakes, reboots, and cinematic déjà vu are the norm, it’s refreshing to see two completely independent films strike such similar chords, yet still stand proudly on their own merits.
Final Verdict: A Beautiful Coincidence, Not a Copy
So, is Past Lives a remake of 96? No. But if you love one, there’s a good chance the other will move you just as deeply.
They’re kindred spirits stories that show us how the past lingers, how people grow apart and sometimes reconnect, and how not all love stories end with “happily ever after.”
And maybe, just maybe, that’s what makes them unforgettable.