Maps of Movies

Past Lives (2023)

Where Past Lives says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A film about two people between Seoul and New York, and where its New York scenes were really filmed — while Seoul's are barely documented.

Scenes and places

The bar where three people sit (opening)

Before any of the story, the camera watches three people at a bar while strangers try to guess what they are to each other.

Set in A New York bar, late at night — The film opens on strangers guessing how the three people at the bar know each other. The same bar returns later in the film.

A small bar on St Marks Place in the East Village.

The playdate in Seoul, 1999 (1999)

Na Young and Hae Sung, both twelve, spend a day together at their parents' arrangement. Soon after, her family moves to Canada.

Set in Seoul, 1999 — Two 12-year-old classmates go on a playdate set up by their parents, shortly before Na Young's family leaves for Canada.

Where the two children spend their last day together before the move.

Filmed at Outdoor sculpture park, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon — One travel outlet names this sculpture park as a filming spot for the childhood scene; no second source, and the point is the museum, not the park. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The video calls between two bedrooms (2011)

Hae Sung has been searching for her online. They reconnect by video, and the screen between them becomes the only place they share.

Set in Nora's apartment in New York, and Hae Sung's room in Seoul, 2011 — Twelve years on, they find each other online and talk across the screen, one room in New York and one in Seoul.

Two sets, side by side in a Brooklyn studio, standing in for two cities.

The writers' retreat in Montauk (2012)

Nora asks Hae Sung to stop talking for a while so she can focus on writing, then meets Arthur at the retreat. She explains the Korean idea of in-yun to him.

Set in A writers' retreat in Montauk, New York, 2012 — Nora steps away from the calls to write, and meets Arthur at the retreat.

A residency for writers where Nora and Arthur first meet.

The book signing in Williamsburg (2012)

Nora and Arthur are together at a book signing in a New York bookshop.

Set in A bookstore in Brooklyn — A bookstore event where Nora and Arthur are in the same room.

An independent bookshop in Williamsburg.

The reunion by the Farragut statue (2023)

Hae Sung flies in to see Nora after twelve years. They meet in person for the first time since they were children.

Set in Madison Square Park, in front of the Farragut statue — Twelve years after the screen calls, Hae Sung comes to New York and meets Nora in person for the first time. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A park in the Flatiron district with a bronze statue of Admiral Farragut.

Filmed at Madison Square Park, Farragut Monument — Nora and Hae Sung's reunion was filmed here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The carousel (2023)

The two spend the afternoon together by the carousel, with carnival music playing.

Set in Jane's Carousel, Brooklyn Bridge Park — A carousel scene on their days together in New York. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A restored 1922 carousel in a glass pavilion by the East River.

Filmed at Jane's Carousel, Brooklyn Bridge Park — The carousel scene was filmed here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Arthur waits at home (2023)

Nora comes home. Arthur jokes that he would be the white American husband in the way of destiny, then admits it frightens him that she dreams in Korean.

Set in Nora and Arthur's apartment, East Village — Arthur and Nora talk in bed about Hae Sung's visit.

A small East Village apartment, where Nora's two lives share one bed.

The ferry (2023)

The two spend a day on the water together, a trip Hae Sung later mentions at dinner.

Set in A ferry on New York's waters — Nora and Hae Sung take a ferry; at dinner they mention a trip to the Statue of Liberty.

Ferries link Manhattan with the harbour islands and New Jersey.

Under the Manhattan Bridge (2023)

Nora and Hae Sung talk as they walk by the water, the bridge above them.

Set in Under and along the Manhattan Bridge — They walk and talk beneath the bridge as a ship horn sounds. Google Maps · Apple Maps

A steel suspension bridge across the East River, with a walkable shoreline below.

Filmed at Manhattan Bridge — Filming took place under and along the bridge; the coordinate is the bridge midpoint, not the exact spot. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Characters

• Nora (Na Young) — A Korean-born playwright who emigrated to Canada as a child and now lives in New York.
• Hae Sung — Nora's childhood friend in Seoul, who travels to see her.
• Arthur — A writer Nora meets at a retreat and later marries.