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'Love has no numbers': Director of matchmaking romance Materialists
August 26, 2025
|The Straits Times
New film from Past Lives director skewers focus on money, age and physique
LOS ANGELES — Film-maker Celine Song has no time for negativity or practicalities when it comes to love.
The Korean-Canadian writer-director is known for Past Lives (2023), a romantic drama that was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay Oscars, and enjoyed an 18-month run at local indie cinema The Projector ending in March.
Opening in Singapore cinemas on Aug 28, her second film, Materialists, stars American actress Dakota Johnson as a New York matchmaker determined to stay single herself unless she can find a wealthy husband.
But she finds herself torn between a millionaire (Pedro Pascal) and her former boyfriend, a waiter struggling to make ends meet (Chris Evans).
Chatting to The Straits Times over Zoom, Song is asked whether these films — which celebrate the lightning-in-a-bottle aspect of love — cultivate a hyper-romanticised ideal that might leave viewers a little disappointed when it comes to dating in real life.
"Why do you just assume they're going to be disappointed?" says the 36-year-old, gently chiding this reporter. "That's so sad.
"And not necessarily. You could also find love."
هذه القصة من طبعة August 26, 2025 من The Straits Times.
اشترك في Magzter GOLD للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة، وأكثر من 9000 مجلة وصحيفة.
هل أنت مشترك بالفعل؟ تسجيل الدخول
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