Last week I watched a really great film called “Return to Seoul” by director Davy Chou. It’s been on my mind a lot ever since.
The movie tells the story of a French woman, Freddie, in her mid 20s who was put up for adoption as a child and has returned to Korea to track down her biological parents.
This film is very honest, open, and raw. It presents it’s characters in a very adult, matter of fact way. Alcoholism. Casual sex. Arms dealers. (Don’t worry that last one makes sense in the context of the story) It asks tough questions like what is it like to have your physical identity tied to a culture that you have never know? It presents the dilemma of adoption agencies looking out for privacy while understanding the needs of both parents and children. I had no idea that so many children were given up for adoption during the Korean war. It’s not something I ever thought about in my little world.
The cinematography is beautiful but it is the performances by everyone involved that just ground the entire film in reality. The camera placement on the perfect reactions is so impactful.
The stand out lead performance is Freddie played by Park J-min. She is fragile, reckless, smart, and determined. This is someone who has been lost their entire life and finally looking for their place in the world. There are long lingering shots of her watching in silence as everything unfolds. Listening to other people talk. At times she seems very far away, unable to process. Then at moments she busts out of those reflective spells and just turns everything into a sort of chaos to shake up the reality unfolding. Getting too close to the pain.
This is a search for identity. Connection. You see this same search in almost everyone who is involved in Freddie’s journey. I don’t want to say much more about this at it could lead to spoilers.
I highly recommend “Return to Seoul” to anyone who enjoys an interesting character study anchored by great, natural performances. Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.
It’s one of those movies where I think back and wonder whatever became of those characters after the credits roll.
Cinematic Point Of View 
Leave a comment