Past Life

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1:48

Past Life

2017

1h 49m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

78%

Tomatometer

27 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

In 1977 Jerusalem, two sisters try to unravel the mystery behind their father's experiences in Poland during World War II.

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Gayle MacDonald

Globe and Mail

The drama seems overwrought at times, even cliché ...

Rated: 2/4

Jul 14, 2017

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Bruce DeMara

Toronto Star

While so many films have examined the war and the Holocaust that took such an egregious toll on the Jewish community, Past Life looks at it from a novel perspective, examining the possible "crimes" committed by a survivor.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 13, 2017

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Kimberley Jones

Austin Chronicle

Rieger and Tagar capture the intimacy and competitive sniping of siblings, and they're each stunning in opposite roles.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 22, 2017

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David Walsh

World Socialist Web Site

...an intelligent, convincing film for the most part, inspired by a true story. It takes place in the late 1970s.

Jul 8, 2020

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Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

After all is said and done, this 1970s set tale may directly address some sore subjects often neglected in Israeli cinema but eventually curdles into an illogical soup of emotional misnomers.

Rated: 2.5/5

Oct 10, 2019

Full Review

Cate Marquis

We Are Movie Geeks

Past Life is a polished and haunting drama that keeps the audience hooked with its suspenseful plot, affecting performances led by two strong female leads, and a heart-wrenching true story.

Apr 30, 2019

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Alain E

Another nice melodrama from Avi Nesher, based on a true story recounting traumatic events that happened during the Holocaust and the effects they have many years later on the survivors and their families in Israel b. As usually, there is effective editing and nice photography.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

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Audience Member

This is a beautifully produced but overly morose Israeli examination of survivors' guilt and its continuation into a second generation. Writer-director Avi Nesher lays it on heavily. A character quotes (without attribution) the adage that Ezekiel quotes, "The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" -- but the film fails to report or adopt any of the sensibilities of Ezekiel's complete rejection of the thought. Here, a daughter, wonderfully played by Nelly Tagar, surrenders her fate to a verdict on her father's wartime actions. Then, protagonists become obsessed with the acceptance of a Polish woman acquaintance whose moral compass is at best questionable. And the film seems OK with all that. Even so, the contrasting sisters, played by Tagar and Joy Rieger, are a pleasure to watch.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Past Life [Avi Nesher, 2017, Israel] Clattered and unfocused with a number of things happening all at once. 6/10

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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Audience Member

Neither the gorgeous cinematography and set design nor the charm of Nelly Tagar can make up for a script that feels unfinished, bad direction and poorly-written dialog.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

A sensitive and moving story about the emotional horrors of theHolocaust

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

Ending is disappointing. No real climax. Mediocre closure.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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Avi Nesher

Director

Nelly Tagar

Nana Milch-Kotler

Joy Rieger

Sephi Milch

Doron Tavory

Baruch Milch

Evgenia Dodina

Lusia Milch

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Past Life: Trailer 1

1:48

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Synopsis

In 1977 Jerusalem, two sisters try to unravel the mystery behind their father's experiences in Poland during World War II.

Director: Avi Nesher
Producer: Ruth Cats, Leon Edery, Moshe Edery, David M. Milch, Avi Nesher, David Silber, Elad Naggar
Screenwriter: Avi Nesher
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Production Co: Metro Communications, Artomas Communications
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama
Original Language: Hebrew
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 2, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 5, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $93.0K
Runtime: 1h 49m

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