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Seoul Searching

Play trailer 2:28 Poster for Seoul Searching 2016 1h 45m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 16 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
In 1986, teens attending a government camp for foreign born teenagers have wild experiences.

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Seoul Searching

Critics Reviews

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Stephanie Merry Washington Post 07/07/2016
2/4
The adolescents at the camp in "Seoul Searching," which takes place during the summer of 1983, fall a little too easily into stereotypes. Go to Full Review
Katie Walsh Los Angeles Times 06/24/2016
2/4
Despite the overwrought stylization, the heart of "Seoul Searching" does ultimately emerge. Go to Full Review
Nick Allen RogerEbert.com 06/17/2016
3/4
"Seoul Searching" is unforgettable in how it boldly presents adolescence, specifically here from a minority's perspective, not just as a life passage, but a type of performance. Go to Full Review
Jae-Ha Kim Jae-Ha Kim 07/28/2023
2.5/4
“Seoul Searching” is a teenage dramedy filled with angst, a killer 1980s soundtrack and some solid acting by a cast of Asian Americans (and Korean veteran actors). But it’s also filled with cliches, some of which work better than others. Go to Full Review
Mae Abdulbaki Punch Drunk Critics 08/14/2018
2.5/5
The idea to explore these multi-cultural teens is something not many people can easily take on, but the execution and script need a bit of polishing. Go to Full Review
Lauren Bullock Black Nerd Problems 06/13/2018
I also can't deny the void that this movie fills in a country that continues to insist that people of color can only be sidekicks or tokens even when its our stories being told. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Roy V 06/21/2023 Such a brilliant low budget production and benign script! It should be a mandated watch in every Public School in the United States. See more 01/25/2022 This is not a movie about gorgeous K-pop stars, it's a movie of real feelings and decision-making based on those same emotions. It's a movie where a culture was bombarded with other cultures in a time where everything was changing and reinventing itself. Even though I couldn't personally relate, I could relate. I don't think justice was made to this movie, it truely captured one generation with many different backgrounds. I adored the movie, I revisit often, and advise others to give it a chance dispite the bad critics somehow recieved. Thank you See more ashley s @Aly13G 07/27/2021 Good storyline that was acted effortlessly convincing. See more 06/23/2021 As an Asian American who has been deemed a great disgrace for being "not stringed to their own culture", it really hit home. This movie not only taught me numerous lessons in life as an Asian American such as appreciating my culture, but also to appreciate my parents for always attempting to keep me intact with my roots. See more 05/03/2021 Amazing! I've seen in at least 7 times. Highly recommend. See more glen a 03/13/2021 "Soeul Searching" is a movie about the children of Korean expatriates who attend a summer camp in Korea to learn about their heritage, but really, it is just mimicking '80s John Hughes coming of age movies, and it is actually pretty good. I enjoyed the second half a lot more than the first half, though. The movie begins by demonstrating how badly a bunch of adolescents can act without adult supervision, but the second half is all about how those characters figure out how to navigate life. I'd guess that 75% of the movie is in English, so you don't have to worry about reading subtitles the entire time. It is rated TV-MA, and it does tackle some pretty adult material, but the rating is mostly for the foul language, so it would be ok for a mature teenager to see. I give it a C, if you've already seen the best, but you insist on watching a movie, try this one out. See more Read all reviews
Seoul Searching

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1986, teens attending a government camp for foreign born teenagers have wild experiences.
Director
Benson Lee
Producer
Andrea Chung, Benson Lee, Brigette Noh
Screenwriter
Benson Lee
Distributor
Wonder Vision
Production Co
Bowery Hills Entertainment
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 17, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Dec 16, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$9.0K
Runtime
1h 45m
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