Celine Song's secret to making heartbreaking rom-coms is her personal life

When Celine Song wrote the script for her debut feature film, “Past Lives,” she was inspired by a conversation she had at a New York bar with her husband and her childhood sweetheart, who was visiting from South Korea

When Celine Song wrote the script for her debut feature film, “Past Lives,” she was inspired by a conversation she had at a New York bar with her husband and her childhood sweetheart, who was visiting from South Korea.

While translating between Korean and English for these important men in her life, she discovered that she was also translating “two parts of myself,” Song explained in an interview with BAFTA.

The romantic drama, starring Greta Lee and Teo Yoo, showcased a love triangle — but one that Song has previously described as the past, present and future of her life and the “what ifs” that so many people oftentimes think about.

The 36-year-old director and writer captivated audiences with her authentic and heartbreaking film — and it’s all because of her real-life experience.

“Past Lives” earned Song an original screenplay Oscar nomination, and the film was also nominated for best picture.