Cover Return to Seoul (2022) by Davy Chou
Return to Seoul (2022) by Davy Chou
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If you have some emotional breadth to spare, you’ll definitely need it as Davy Chou’s 'Return to Seoul' is a slow, gloomy watch
Those who have become familiar with the picturesque backdrop of Seoul from their regular dose of Korean dramas will discover a new face to the scenic city in Davy Chou’s Return to Seoul (2022). By all means an existential film, the two-hour feature follows a 25-year-old who suddenly finds herself—by whim or fate—dab-smack in the middle of Seoul where she was born to parents who’d given her up for adoption as an infant.
The movie is a woeful watch. It revels in discomfort and awkwardness, emphasising the lead Frederique’s painful journey towards not only finding her biological parents but more so herself. Taken in by a French couple, Freddie (as she’s called by her peers), knows not a lick of Korean but looks every bit of it.
She struggles to understand and cope with the decorum and culture of her hometown, and by some interpretation, even loathes it. She’s independent, feisty, confrontational, and unapologetic—every bit the French lady she is.
Read more: 40 New Korean Dramas To Watch This 2022
Above Return to Seoul (2022) by Davy Chou
Return to Seoul (2022) by Davy Chou
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She rubs people the wrong way, particularly her father who, upon their reunion, longs for more of her time. Freddie is annoyed by this affection and pushes him away. Meanwhile, she returns again and again to the adoption centre to put in a request to meet her biological mother.
She stays in Seoul with the hopes of finally receiving a letter granting her a visit. The wait is in vain, year after year. She learns more and more about her roots but remains a lonely renegade, partaking in raunchy relationships and becoming a staple in the local party scene. Chou’s treatment is interesting and provoking: revelling in the painful moments but quickly cutting climactic scenes of intimacy. As if an attempt to relay to the audience how Freddie herself perceives the world around her. She enjoys pain yet cannot suffer love.
Above Return to Seoul (2022) by Davy Chou
Return to Seoul (2022) by Davy Chou
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Above Return to Seoul (2022) by Davy Chou
Return to Seoul (2022) by Davy Chou
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Return to Seoul is by no means a family drama but still unravels the deep difficulties between those we build our lives with. Director of Photography Thomas Favel's cinematography and the scoring by Jérémie Arcache and Christophe Musset equally match Chou’s deliberate focus on loneliness. They paint a dark, almost despondent atmosphere throughout the film, made light only by a few moments of dry humour.
The film tugs at your heartstrings without the usage of emotional excess. It underscores the cliché truism that ‘hurt people hurt people’. Is it a pleasurable watch? To an extent. While captivating, it fails at times to keep the audience glued to the screen. Then again, this is no Marvel blockbuster.
Above Return to Seoul (2022) by Davy Chou
Return to Seoul (2022) by Davy Chou
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The film is a must-watch for those who enjoy rather high-brow, human-interest films to the tune of Lee Chang-dong’s Burning (2018) or Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation (2003). It explores the earnest struggle of accepting one’s roots and the reality that sometimes, we are who we are, despite desires for change. Our longings may fall moot and academic as we face an unforgiving world with the little coping tools we have. Freddie is lost because she doesn’t want to be found—and perhaps, that alone may prove relatable to most.
Return to Seoul debuted at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival under the 'Un Certain Regard' selection. Catch it in the Philippines during the QCinema fest, happening November 17 to 26, 2022. To book your tickets, visit: qcinema.ph for the full list of participating cinemas and establishments.
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A creative storyteller with a background in literature and culture, Dowee has been with Tatler since 2016 and now leads the brand’s digital voice—pursuing stories that highlight inspiring people, moments, and experiences. She holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from De La Salle University and is pursuing her PhD in Philippine Literature and Society at the University of the Philippines. She is also a member of the writers group, Taftique, which hones young writers in the field of creative literature.
For story leads, collaborations, or inquiries, reach out via dowee@tatlerphilippines.com or info@tatlerphilippines.com.
