Happy Sunday, everyone! How are we all doing? Have we started layering up yet? Have we gone out of our way to step on some crunchy leaves? Perhaps even a Pumpkin Spice something has started to make its way into our day-to-day? This is the season where I thrive and feel most like myself (not sure if there?s a science behind this, seeing as I am a Spring baby who prefers Autumn and Winter). I want to make stews and soups and wear suede boots and cashmere everything whilst drinking hot, sugary drinks every day. I want to complain about how cold it is whilst relishing sitting in front of an open fire and watching a good film. I?m also finally ready to slow down after a very hectic (and expensive) Summer. The last two weeks have been inundated with both work and social occasions, which means I haven?t taken much time for myself to decompress. On the plus side, I?ve been meeting a whole range of new people, from friends of friends to other ?influencers?, as well as the PR and marketing teams behind the brands and even the brand owners themselves. The discussions I?ve been having with all of them have been in a similar vein and are what has prompted today?s podcast topic. On the negative side, my alone time has been minimal, and on the rare occasions I?ve had it, I?ve needed to find a way to preserve my peace and my energy. Unsurprisingly, the only way I?ve managed to take some time for myself is by going to the cinema so that I can have 2 hours just to switch off. As much as I?d like to say that I watched something different each time, I ended up seeing the same film twice because I loved it so much. So, on that note, I will be kicking off this week?s issue with Film Club?
Over the course of mine and Henry?s relationship, I dread to think how much we?ve spent on cinema tickets at Everyman (our chain of choice). After a lot of, ?We should probably get Everyman membership, shouldn?t we?? and, ?You know two tickets are basically the same prices as membership, so we?d be saving money? conversations, we actually did what we?d been talking about doing for years. We became ?Everywhere? members, which essentially means the two of us can see an unlimited amount of films in any Everyman branch across the country. This past week Henry has been out of the country for work, so I?ve been making very good use of this newest membership and the oddly delicious menu at my branch of choice (they?ve added honey halloumi and buffalo fries to the ever-growing menu, which is a blessing and a curse). So, what have I seen? Well, I watched Past Lives twice because one viewing would never be enough. I also wasn?t allowed to watch A Haunting In Venice until Heny was back, as he loves anything Poirot. I had been excited to see Past Lives for months, so I was thrilled when it met all expectations. The bad thing about this film? You will find yourself having a crisis for days (who am I kidding, weeks) after seeing it.
Past Lives
Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora?s family emigrates from South Korea. 20 years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny.
So if you follow me on Instagram, you would have already seen my very brief review of this film which means that you will also already know that this is Celine Song?s directorial debut, but I really think it?s a point worth reiterating. She is also the sole writer. I make a point of both of these things, purely due to some of the less than favourable reviews I?ve seen about Past Lives, which seem to ignore the above. Anyway. The film industry is no stranger to the ?star-crossed lovers? and ?right person, wrong time? trope we?ve seen hashed out in various ways across the years, but I?m yet to see one that handles the subject in the way Past Lives does. However, let?s cover the visuals first before we dive into the topic in more detail. Firstly, it?s beautiful to watch. A lot of the shots and the positioning of the actors in the frame are intentional and a sub-story in itself. The beauty of this film lies in the things left unsaid, both between the actors and with the camera. Long shots are used to make the audience feel like voyeurs, witnessing the events unfold in real-time, waiting for something or someone to break the tension in the awkward silences. The backdrops of Seoul, Shanghai, and New York City are a juxtaposition of darkness and light, stillness and movement, much like the central characters (slightly unnecessary, but I understand why they?ve done it). Early on, we see a scene where the two, as children, are walking home together, and they meet a point in the road that forks off. They split, taking the respective road to their homes, and in that one shot, we also see the trajectory of their lives played out in front of them. Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) are absolutely magnetic. Not only because of their magnificent acting but because of how much the camera loves them. Something about their faces feels familiar, like you could be watching a loved one (or even yourself) experiencing the same journey they are. I guess it also doesn?t hurt that they are both extremely good-looking. One of my favourite scenes includes Nora?s husband asking whether her now grown-up childhood crush, Hae Sung, is attractive, and she answers nonchalantly as if the man doesn?t look like a walking perfume ad. Surprisingly, the husband ended up being one of my favourite parts of this film. Why? because in films of this genre, the husband or wife is normally pitted as the side character who is essentially a placid villain, not actively doing anything evil but somehow the person standing in the way of true love. Nostalgia is often seen through a rose-tinted lens, and it can be easy to romanticise the person on the other end of the ?what if? whilst forgetting that the people currently in your life are there for a reason. Past Lives shows, again, in the small moments and the things left unsaid, how Nora?s husband is the person she?s supposed to end up with in this current lifetime. He understands her on a level that Hae-Yung never will, and even when he doesn?t, he wants nothing more than to understand her.
The crux of this film centres around ?Inyeon?, a Korean word that means providence or fate, and the strings that tie people to one another throughout every life they live. As Nora explains in the film – ?It?s an inyeon if two strangers even walk past each other in the street and their clothes accidentally brush, because it means there must have been something between them in their past lives. If two people get married, they say it?s because there have been 8,000 layers of inyeon over 8,000 lifetimes.?
If you are predisposed to nostalgia like myself (as many of you probably already know from my fairly personal issue about ?first love?), this concept is one that will resonate strongly, and Past Lives explores exactly that. The writing doesn?t rely on cheap gimmicks, big dramatic scenes, or emotional manipulation to evoke a reaction. Its delivery of the big ?what if?? is done rather tenderly. It?s as honest and as awkward as you would imagine seeing your childhood love after 20 years would be. As I mentioned at the start, the power of this film is in everything left unsaid, and in those moments, we are given time to reflect on our own experiences with ?Inyeon?. How and why did you end up with the friendships and relationships you currently have? Who could that person you brushed past in the street have been to you in another life? Why can you meet someone for the first time and feel as though you?ve known them for a lifetime? Most importantly, if confronted with the choice to change your path, what would you do? An extra layer to this comes from Nora?s experience as a Korean immigrant in New York. This diaspora is another ?push, pull? element to her story that only emphasises her internal conflict and one that many of us can relate to. If you were moved around a lot as a child or raised in a country you weren?t native to; it?s easy to wonder how many other versions of you could have existed that were out of your control. How the you sitting here and reading this would not exist if your parents had chosen differently. The issue with such a huge topic is that it can feel undeveloped, which it feels like a lot of the criticisms of this film centre around. The characters feel ?undeveloped?, the storyline is ?unexplored?, and the dialogue is ?simple?. However, a film like this could never ?do more? because it?s not supposed to. It?s supposed to make you yearn and question. It?s supposed to have you reflect on everything that?s happened and wonder why the characters made the choices they did. It?s supposed to make you feel all of these things about them as much as your own life. If you are a fan of Linklater?s ?Before? trilogy, you would have already witnessed what ?bittersweet? means in its purest form. Past Lives is just that ? bittersweet. You will smile through tears and feel both grateful and devastated with every choice you?ve made that?s led you to this point.
today?s ?watch, read, listen? segment also includes ?visit? and ?buy? in the list – it?s my newsletter, so I do what I want
-
Breath by James Nestor – When I started reading this, I could not put it down. I had mentioned to one of the trainers at my club that I was learning how to breathe again after seeing a soft tissue therapist, and he told me that he?d read a book called ?breath?, which was not only fascinating but also intertwined personal stories with scientific research. I?d forgotten he?d told me this until I was walking past a bookstore and saw it through a window, and I took it as a sign to buy it. Without exaggerating too much, I would say this book is life-changing. Our breath has the power to heal or hinder and completely change our physiology. After reading a certain chapter, I paused and headed straight to Amazon to buy mouth tape (I will update you on how disastrous or transformative this is in due course). Read this goddamn book.
-
Lord Huron, Strange Trails – So, there are two songs from this album that I would listen to on repeat and for the longest time, I never considered actually listening to the full album. I?m not really sure how to describe the music ? folkesy? country? otherworldly? Listening to this album makes me feel like I?m sitting in a log cabin with all of my closest friends, drinking wine and sharing stories. Some songs feel like a memory I?ve never experienced or like how I?d imagine the main characters at the end of a film would feel as they drive down a long, deserted road in an open-top car, with no idea where they?re going, but they don?t care. The perfect album to get you in the mood for Autumn.
-
Frieze London – If you aren?t interested in the art, at the very least, you need to go for the people-watching. You could easily spend a whole day wandering around, looking at some of the best (and worst) art you will ever see. It also doesn?t hurt that there?s good food and good booze available while you are nurturing your inner art critic. It?s held in Regent?s Park, so you can also take yourself off afterwards for an Autumnal stroll to stomp on some crunchy leaves.
-
Autumnal Cooking – It?s nearly time for the weekly roasts and bone broths to commence. Some of my favourite fruit and veg are about to come into season (figs! leeks! brussels! blackcurrants! butternut squash!), so there are plenty of things on my bucket list to make, including all, but not limited to, Slow-cooked pork, cider and sage hotpot, Rhubarb and apple crumble, Minted lamb stew with dumplings and Cinnamon roasted butternut squash.
-
Hocus Pocus (the original from 1993, of course) – So, I would normally just say to watch When Harry Met Sally because it?s one of my favourite films of all time AND it?s the best at getting you into the autumnal spirit, but I always talk about it so I?m choosing something else. I watched Hocus Pocus every year growing up (I remember thinking SJP was the most beautiful woman I?d ever seen), and it?s the perfect amount of silly and spooky to get you in the mood. Don?t ask me about the most recent one because I haven?t seen it, and I don?t plan on seeing it.
-
Blank Street Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Spice Cold Brew – This one is self-explanatory. I personally think their PSL is nicer than Starbucks. I?m also still waiting for them to partner with me, seeing as you guys send me pictures of your iced Blank Street matchas on a weekly basis.
-
Flippers Roller Boogie Palace – Back in April, I was sent an email from a rollerskating place offering to pay me to partner with them. I said, thanks, but no thanks because, hellooooo do I look like someone who would enjoy rollerblading indoors around a darkened rink??? Well, fast forward five months, and it turns out I do. I recently went here for a Glossier launch party and had the time of my LIFE. The DJ plays amazing songs, the skates are chic, and the vibe is electric. It?s also only £20 for 2 hours of skating which is a lot of skating, I?m convincing all my friends to come with me as I think it?s the perfect indoor activity once it starts getting colder and darker outside. Flippers, if you?re reading, I?m ready to take you up on your original offer.
-
Gossip Girl and Gilmore Girls – This is just your reminder that it?s time for your yearly rewatch. That?s all.
If you have enjoyed today?s issue (or any issue) of The Rhubarb Society, please feel free to share with those closest to you. Thank you for supporting the Society, and we look forward to seeing you in the next issue.
With Love,
Tamsin & Rhubarb
xoxo
