By Solenn N

Leaving audiences speechless, Past Lives premiered at the Sundance Festival in January 2023 and was released theatrically in June of the same year. Celine Song’s directorial debut and stars Greta Lee as Nora Moon, Teo Yoo as Hae Sung, and John Magaro and Arthur Zaturansky. The A24 film explores the idea of fate–the happenstance and magic in happening upon someone for a second time and getting a chance at an opportunity you’ve always wanted to take. One line from the movie introduces it meaningfully, “There’s a word in Korean: 인연 [in-yeon]. It means ‘providence’ or ‘fate.’ But it’s specifically about relationships between people. I think it comes from Buddhism and Reincarnation. It’s an in-yeon if two strangers even walk past each other on the street and their clothes accidently 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 eight thousand layers of in-yeon over eight thousand lifetimes.”

Past Lives follows Nora in her journey throughout life, learning about love and her former connections with people as they come up in her adulthood. The film walks us through Nora’s childhood, allowing the viewers to immerse themselves in the connection that she has with her childhood crush, Hae Sung. Then it takes us through her family’s immigration to Canada and her eventual move to New York City, losing the connection that she had with him. However, when he reaches out to her online, they are able to reconnect over years. They face internal conflict over what their relationship  with each other really is and Nora’s marriage to Arthur Zaturansky makes it difficult to comb through.

The performances of the actors pull the movie together. Lee plays Nora as confident, but still questioning her life choices and unassured at times. While she is happy with her successful life as a writer in New York, her mind still wanders to the other possibilities that she had. Yoo  portrays Hae Sung in a reserved and heartbreaking way. He exhibits a longing for Nora that can be seen in his quiet demeanor and how he speaks with Nora. He shows his true emotions in the poignant line, “What if this is a past life as well, and we are already something else to each other in our next life? Who do you think we are then?” Nora’s husband, Arthur, is played by Magaro as more aloof than the other characters, while having his meaningful moments. While the character can be seen as less serious at times, he also depicts his softer side and love for Nora. These three performances come together to show us that there is no true good or bad among the characters, but the situation they are in is more complicated because of that.

One of the most powerful aspects of the movie is that it allows you to sit in your emotions and feelings that it causes. The pauses between sentences in conversations, moments of silence, and emotional music that fills each scene completes the movie and lets you fully realize every little moment and detail in the scenes. Each shot of the movie is deliberate to cause an audience reaction. Celine Song explained that she wanted to “capture that feeling of time” and its “fleetingness” through the cinematography. From the amount of space between the actors to the scenery that surrounds them, the movie includes deep meaning in every decision that intrigues the audience and fully immerses you in the lives of the characters.

Past Lives is a movie that everyone can relate to through its theme of ‘fleetingness of time’, as Song described it. It doesn’t take a film analyst or a cinematographer to understand the profoundness in the meaning within the movie. While no one person will have the exact experience depicted in the film, it can relate to any relationship that seems to struggle with missed opportunities across time. Past Lives is such a well praised and effective movie because of how well it plays with the audience’s emotions. Anyone can find a connection in it and fully immerse themself in the experience through this narrative.

By Mackenzie W

SWEDEN

Sweden is well known for being the home of Ikea, but the country is so much more than a furniture store. Sweden is one of the best places to visit in the winter as it’s almost always covered in a thick blanket of snow creating a winter wonderland. One of Sweden's most known attractions is the Aurora Borealis or the northern lights which are best seen from September to March. The northern lights are best seen in the northern parts of Sweden in cities such as Kiruna or the tiny village of Porjus where you can stay in a cabin or a traditional tent called a lavvu. Another place to see the northern lights is the town of Jukkasjärvi which also happens to be home to the famous Icehotel, carved out of ice every December. 

If relaxing is not your jam you can take a trip to the Are ski resort with 89 runs and some of the best off-piste skiing in the world. A bonus of being located in Scandinavia Are is often open much later than other European ski resorts making it the perfect place to get in one last trip before the seasons end. All in all Sweden is one of the best places to visit if you enjoy winter and the snow. With many different activities everyone can find something they enjoy. 

VENICE

When thinking of winter destinations, Venice may not be one that comes to mind. However, Venice is one of the best places to visit this winter as they offer much during the winter that you don’t get to see during its peak tourist seasons. 

During the month of December, Venice is home to one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in all of Europe. The Campo San Stefano market is one of its most popular and runs until December 24th and sells everything from jewelry to carnevale masks. One of the main advantages of visiting Venice in the winter, though, is the ability to explore the city without hordes of tourists. This leaves sights that are usually very busy, calm and easy to explore. 

Another reason to visit Venice in the winter is the festival of Carnevale which takes place each year in February and has been a tradition since 1162. It is famous around the world for its elaborate costumes and stunning masks. Throughout its 10 day run, mini plays are put on throughout the city, culminating in a large parade on the last day. 

Despite its reputation as a summer destination, Venice should be added to your winter trip list for all of its unique winter offerings. 

MALTA

Known for its summer vibrancy, Malta undergoes a tranquil transformation in winter, offering a serene escape from the usual hustle. Valletta, the historic capital, unveils its medieval allure with cobblestone streets and cultural landmarks like the Grand Master's Palace, creating a peaceful backdrop for winter strolls. The island of Gozo, just a ferry ride away, offers a slower pace amid lush countryside and rugged coastlines. Winter temperatures remain mild, making it ideal for outdoor activities and for those who don’t like the cold of winter with temperatures staying in the 60’s most days, even in December. 

Festive events punctuate the winter calendar, including enchanting Christmas markets and traditional pageants, infusing the island with warmth and celebration.

Malta's winter charm extends beyond its renowned summer appeal, inviting visitors to embrace the quieter ambiance, cultural traditions, and welcoming spirit for an enchanting winter getaway in the heart of the Mediterranean. 

By Tadek N

The Israeli-Palestine conflict is an old conflict, beginning over a century with the movement of a large Jewish population into Palestinian territory decreed by the British in the Balfour Declaration on the 2nd of November 1917. This declaration stated that the British Government would make Palestine the national home for Jewish people, leading to a mass immigration between 1923 to 1948 into an area that initially was made up of over 90% Palestinian Arab Natives. 

World War 2 expedited this process as more and more Jewish people fled from Eastern and Central Europe from fear of Nazi persecution. This led to rising tension between newcomers and Natives boiling up in the Arab revolt, which lasted from 1936-1939. Measures taken during this revolt included the boycott of Jewish stores, a general strike by Palestinians and a refusal to pay taxes. These actions caused British outlash and quick escalation; village bombings, strict curfews, and punitive home demolitions were often used by the British to suppress resistance. A Jewish paramilitary force was set up, becoming the primary military for the British at the time. The 3 years of revolt led to more than 5,000 Palestinian deaths and over 300 Jewish deaths. By 1947 the United Nations determined that Palestine should be split into a Palestinian and Jewish plan, providing the 33% of Jewish population 55% of the land and the 67% of Palestinian population 45%; this resolution was thus denied by the Palestinians. 

From 1947-1948 a Zionist group performed Nakba, “a catastrophe” in Arabic, destroying over 500 villages and killing 15,000 Palestinians. The Zionist movement captured 78% of historic Palestine and left the Gaza strip and West Bank to the Palestinians, and on May 15th, 1948 Israel announced its establishment.

This was called the first Arab-Israeli War and it ended the following year after an armistice in January 1949. In 1950 Egypt took control of the Gaza Strip and in 1964 the Palestine Liberation Operation (PLO) was formed. On June 5th, 1967 Israel occupied the rest of historical Palestine in the 6 Days War and settlement construction began in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. 

In December of 1987 the First Intifada, which means uprising against oppression in Arabic, started as Palestinian protesters across the West Bank rioted, leading to the establishment of the Hamas movement and a hard pushback by the Israeli government. The First Intifada ended in 1993 when the Oslo accords were signed, creating the Palestinian Authority (PA) as an interim government allowing limited self rule in certain parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The PLO, then accepted as a representative of Palestine, agreed to a two state solution giving Israel 60% of historical Palestine and having joint control over 22% of historical Palestine. The Second Intifada began on the 28th of September 2000 when Ariel Shanon, an Israeli politician soon to be elected as the minister of Israel in 2001,  visited the Al-Aqsa mosque with a security detachment positioned in the old city of Jerusalem which clashed against Palestinian protesters. This sparked an armed uprising which ended in Israel reoccupying the areas governed by the PA and beginning construction of walled borders between Israel and Palestine.Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip were taken apart and Palestine had its first general election resulting in a Fatahs-Hamas civil war after Hamas took the majority. Hamas expelled Fatahs from the Gaza Strip and Fatahs took control of parts of the West Bank; Israel determined Hamas as a terrorist group and set up a blockade on the Gaza Strip. Israel has led 4 assaults on the Gaza Strip in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2021, called Operation Protective Edge by Israeli forces. On October 7th this year Hamas launched an assault on southern Israel taking around 250 hostages into the Gaza Strip. In retaliation Israel has been launching an air and ground assault on the Gaza Strip. However, a ceasefire occurred on November 24th to the 1st of December and Hamas released 110 hostages during this time in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners in Israel. The fighting resumed on the 1st of December as Israel resumed its assault on the Gaza Strip. 

By Emily W

Perhaps you’ve heard discussion surrounding the Republican primary debates that have been occurring this year. These debates have been in preparation for the next stage of the presidential election process, the U.S. primaries. The U.S. primary elections are conducted to select candidates for parties for the general election and are typically held from January to June of the year of the presidential election. The dates of primary elections vary on a state-by-state basis. 

Primaries involve secret ballots being cast which get considered by states. They can be open, closed, or semi-open, which impacts who can cast a ballot. In an open primary, anyone, regardless of affiliation, may vote in one of the primary elections in their state. In a closed primary, voters may only vote in the primary of their registered political party. The third kind of primaries are semi-closed, with independent voters being able to choose an election to vote in, but registered voters only being able to vote in their party’s primary. 

These differ from caucuses, which also exist to select presidential nominees, but are meetings conducted by political parties. 

Anyone 18 or older (or additionally, in select states, those who will be 17 during the primaries but 18 during the general election) may vote in their state’s primary. According to Kendall Douglass for the Federal Voting Assistance Program, FVAP “assist[s] absentee voters in several ways.” They help with “voting registration, ... provid[ing] absentee ballots, election office information, state-specific voting requirements, and much more.” The FVAP office can be found on Panzer in the Transition Office, Bldg. 2913/Rm. 119.

For the upcoming elections, the Democratic candidates include current president Joe Biden, author Marianne Williamson, and congressman Dean Phillips. The current list of Republican candidates consists of former president Donald Trump, Florida governor Ron Desantis, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, former biotechnology investor Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey governor and federal prosecutor Chris Christie, former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson, and North Dakota governor Doug Burgum. Some candidates have also dropped running in the race, such as former vice president Mike Pence in October or Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is now running independently. 

While Joe Biden and Donald Trump lead polls of their respective parties, neither have participated in any primary debates. The Democratic National Committee not scheduling any primary debates has drawn some controversy. Donald Trump has also faced criticism for not participating in any debates, yet retorts by saying that he is already leading in polls of Republican voters and therefore does not need to attend.