Return to Seoul

R

Released Dec 2, 2022

1 hr. 59 min.

Drama

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for Return to Seoul: Trailer 1

List

97%

131 Reviews

Tomatometer

92%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

On an impulse to reconnect with her origins, Freddie, 25, returns to South Korea for the first time, where she was born before being adopted and raised in France. The headstrong young woman starts looking for her biological parents in a country she knows so little about, taking her life in new and unexpected directions.

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Critics Consensus

Sensitively attuned to its protagonist's quest, Return to Seoul uses one woman's story to explore universal truths about the human condition.

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Will

Moving, subtle and sharply observed drama about what it means to be truly lost and the frustration of finding answers.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/02/23

Full Review

Brenda T

I was surprised to see the city streets and buildings looking modern. As far as the lead person, I almost expected her to die before the movie ended because she was reckless and uncaring. I did not like that she disrespected and nearly hated her father, but accepted her mother so readily. Her father should have been more understood even though he drank a lot and wanted to get her married without really knowing how she felt. I liked his family.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/26/23

Full Review

Anna

It was a very moving show. Unexpected ending.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/08/23

Full Review

Marty

Acting of characters Freddie and her father was excellent. Film has great flow, editing and mood. Excellent mix of French, Korean and English dialogue with good English subtitles.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

jonathan

Heartbreaking, in the best possible way.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

Full Review

w donald s

Totally up involving. Highly overrated by critic

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/03/22

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Davy Chou

Director

Oh Kwang-rok

Actor

Kim Sun-young

Actor

Yoann Zimmer

Maxime

Louis-Do de Lencquesaing

André

Ji-Min Park

Frédérique Benoît

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Everything Everywhere All at Once and TÁR Lead Independent Spirit Awards

Return to Seoul: Trailer 1

2:02

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Jasmine Liu

The New Republic

Return to Seoul revels in the possibilities of perpetual drift. Freddie’s relationships with her birth parents, her adoptive parents, and herself remain in flux.

Aug 7, 2023

Full Review

Jae-Ha Kim

Salon.com

Don't believe the K-dramas. Look to "Return to Seoul" for a more realistic view on Korean adoptees.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jul 26, 2023

Full Review

David Sexton

New Statesman

This fantastic film is just as much the creation of its star, Park Ji-min, a French-Korean visual artist who had never acted before. She gives an extraordinary performance as Freddie.

Jul 5, 2023

Full Review

Petr Navovy

Pajiba

Like the best stories, Return to Seoul understands that people contain multitudes, that in our quest for ourselves we don’t always do everything the most pragmatic way, and that can make us tough to like sometimes.

Jan 25, 2024

Full Review

Pallavi Keswani

The Hindu

Davy Chou and Park Ji-Min sensitively translate the chaos of defining one’s identity.

Jan 23, 2024

Full Review

Walter Chaw

Film Freak Central

Davy Chou's Return to Seoul is the immigrant-life-that-could've-been film I most connected with in a visceral way this year.

Jan 4, 2024

Full Review

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Synopsis

On an impulse to reconnect with her origins, Freddie, 25, returns to South Korea for the first time, where she was born before being adopted and raised in France. The headstrong young woman starts looking for her biological parents in a country she knows so little about, taking her life in new and unexpected directions.

Director: Davy Chou
Executive Producer: Ha Min-ho, Davy Chou
Screenwriter: Davy Chou
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: VOO, Centre National du Cinéma et de L'image Animée, Seoul Metropolitan Government, Vandertastic Films, Aurora Films, Doco Digital, Korean Film Council, Belga Productions, Ciné+, Frakas Productions, Cinémage 16, BE TV, Tax Shelter du Gouvernement Fédéral Belge, Belga Films Fund, Filmförderungsanstalt, Merecinema, Cofimage 33, Anti-Archive
Rating: R (Nudity|Language|Brief Drug Use)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 2, 2022, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $798.5K
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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