Free Chol Soo Lee

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1:59

Free Chol Soo Lee

Released Aug 12, 2022

1h 23m

Documentary

History

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Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

In 1970s San Francisco, 20-year-old Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee is racially profiled and convicted of a Chinatown gang murder. After spending years fighting to survive, investigative journalist K.W. Lee takes a special interest in his case, igniting an unprecedented social justice movement.

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Critics Consensus

Free Chol Soo Lee powerfully relates a story of injustice while issuing a searing indictment of the systemic racism that enabled it.

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

In its clear-eyed empathy for the totality of life, “Free Chol Soo Lee” is only deepened by not ignoring what happens when the spotlight fades on a righted wrong...

Aug 25, 2022

Full Review

K. Austin Collins

Rolling Stone

There’s an entire history of political representation to confront here, in other words, and even when Free Chol Soo Lee doesn’t seem to be taking this problem on in a direct way, the movie’s self-aware deviations from the norm are pronounced.

Aug 22, 2022

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Observer (UK)

[An] impressive and wrenchingly sad documentary...

Rated: 4/5

Aug 21, 2022

Full Review

R. Colin Tait

The Playlist

What “Free Chol Soo Lee” lacks in terms of earlier material, it more than compensates for in revealing this underseen historical movement.

Rated: B+

Dec 17, 2022

Full Review

Diego Batlle

Otroscines.com

Beyond the conscientious and dogmatic spirit, Free Chol Soo Lee is a sociopolitical documentary that digs into yesterday to find the footprints that still have an effect today. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4/5

Oct 4, 2022

Full Review

Glenn Dunks

The Film Experience

[Ha and Yi] instead tell their story with sober details, having amassed fascinating archival footage of the man, his family and the media storm that surrounded him.

Sep 27, 2022

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Sean

Very powerful and important story

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/28/22

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Johnny

Fascinating account of our messed up justice system taking 10 years of an innocent man's life. Asian Americans have been discriminated against in so many ways, including within the justice system.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/19/22

Full Review

Audience Member

The greatest 01 hour: and 23 minutes ever of real footage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

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Julie Ha

Director

Eugene Yi

Director

Sebastian Yoon

Narrator

K.W. Lee

Self

Julie Ha

Producer

Sona Jo

Producer

Faceless

100%

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Faceless

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97%

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96%

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Plan C

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97%

84%

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Free Chol Soo Lee: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In 1970s San Francisco, 20-year-old Korean immigrant Chol Soo Lee is racially profiled and convicted of a Chinatown gang murder. After spending years fighting to survive, investigative journalist K.W. Lee takes a special interest in his case, igniting an unprecedented social justice movement.

Director: Julie Ha, Eugene Yi
Producer: Julie Ha, Sona Jo, Su Kim, Jean Tsien, Eugene Yi
Distributor: MUBI
Production Co: XTR
Genre: Documentary, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 12, 2022, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $50.1K
Runtime: 1h 23m

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