The common notion today is the idea of the soul mate. It pervades films and TV, especially on romance-heavy sites like Hallmark. The idea that there’s that one, perfect person out there for you and you’re destined to find them and live happily ever after. It’s a concept that creates enormous pressure and expectations.

But life doesn’t usually work like that. The film Past Lives—which debuted at Sundance and now is making its way to wide release—looks at the idea of love, friendship and timing. It’s engaging and gripping but it’s also sorrowful, not only for the characters on screen but for those in the audience. It’s also one of the best films of the year so far.

It begins with three people at a bar—Nora (Greta Lee) flanked by Arthur (John Magaro) and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo)—as someone aloud wonders what the three are to each other. Flash back 24 years to Korea, and a young Nora—then known as Na Young—and Hae Sung are classmates. Their 12 and best friends, possibly trending toward something more. When Nora’s parents immigrate to the West, the two lose touch. But the connection isn’t severed.

Twelve years later, the two re-connect via Skype. Both are launching into careers, with lives and dreams of their own. Hae Sung is in Korea and Nora is a writer living in New York. That doesn’t seem likely to change for either, so they hit a bump in the road.

Jump ahead 12 more years and Nora is a successful writer, married to Arthur. Hae Sung, meanwhile, is living an “ordinary life,” when he heads to New York. He seeks to connect with Nora, the girl he’s never forgotten. But what will it all mean?

That’s the journey in this film, which doesn’t go the way you might expect. The beauty of this film, written and directed by Celine Song, is that it knows what the expectations and troupes are. In fact, at one point in the film, Arthur reflects on the role he’s playing in someone else’s great love story. But our lives aren’t always defined by great love stories. They’re defined by choices and timing, which helps shape us into the people we become.

That’s a huge part of the narrative here. It plays out in these three time periods and in series of encounters, sometimes wordless moments that convey a breadth of meaning. It’s an examination of love but also of timing and choices that put us on a path in our lives. The ending is fitting but deeply emotional and bittersweet.

Song delivers a beautiful epic with some wonderful shots and a powerfully compelling script. She also evokes some great performances. Lee, Magaro and Yoo are beautiful in the film. All should receive consideration come year-end awards. Lee, in particular, felt like the heart of the film and delivers a performance that continues to resonate with me long after my screening.

Past Lives is one of the gems of the first half of the year and will likely be a contender for a number of awards in the season to come. It’s worth seeking out.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.