Return to Seoul

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.

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

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.

It’s all about the unsteadiness and volatility of being and belonging with a beautiful melody to hold on to in the end.

It is in that gap – between self-protection and exposure; between theory and reality – that this spirited, stimulating film finds its resonance.

This is so fluid, and dynamic, and liberated in its style.

Return to Seoul is an irresistible work that one is likely to return to again and again.

Return to Seoul may seem like a quiet film at first...but, in truth, the film is deceptively devastating in its examination — to a forensic degree in some aspects — of its protagonist’s heart and soul.

No matter how much Freddie’s appearance might change, Park’s commanding performance ensures that the character's soul remains intact.

It is amazing how watching an actor convey an array of emotions can help a viewer reflect on their own unfamiliar emotional experience regardless of how different the circumstances are.