Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for Return to Seoul

Return to Seoul

Seen it?

2022 | 119 min | Drama

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (97% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who loves a strong drama. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Thoughtful and character-driven.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 59 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated R: meant for adults.
  • It's in Korean, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

After an impulsive travel decision to visit friends, Freddie, 25, returns to South Korea for the first time, where she was born before being adopted and raised in France. Freddie suddenly finds herself embarking on an unexpected journey in a country she knows so little about, taking her life in new and unexpected directions.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 87 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesBelow par

    6.2 out of 10

  • AwardsBelow par

    Nominated for 1 Cannes award.

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $2 million worldwide

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 29K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Davy Chou

  • Park Ji-minFreddie
  • Oh Kwang-rokFather
  • Guka HanTena
  • Kim Sun-youngAunt
  • Yoann ZimmerMaxime
  • Louis-Do de LencquesaingAndre
  • Heo JinGrandmother
  • Son Seung-beomDongwan "French-speaking friend"
  • Kim Dong-seokJiwan "The boy with the fringe"
  • Emeline BriffaudLucie