Despite my high rating, I’m a little mixed on Return to Seoul. I think how much I like it depends on how much I can get into the main character’s head… and often that’s a pretty inscrutable place. I ultimately like the film and find the acting very challenging, yet it exists at arm’s length.

The flick is about a Korean woman who was adopted as an infant and raised in France. She speaks French and English but not Korean so when she finds herself in her birth country looking for her biological parents, she’s out of her depth.

The main character is weirdly haunting… a fascinating portrayal of someone who is both distant and chaotically joyful. But the joy only comes when she’s in control and often at the expense of others. For most of the film, she’s so still and impassive that I was hoping for some blistering outrage, indignity, and fury.

The film’s first hour is very strong (even within the frustrating limits of its main character being so shut down). It follows her as she meets her bio-dad but can’t connect with him. Or maybe she chooses not to connect with him. It’s hard to tell because she doesn’t tell us exactly what she’s feeling (which is ultimately a good thing).

The second half is far more shaggy and directionless. I think it reflects somewhat how unmoored the main character is to her situation. It does maneuver in lazy circles to a strong conclusion where we do get two very different but layered moments of emotional release.

This is a thoughtful, intelligent, yet chilly film about a character who is hard to like. But there’s something about her single-minded dedication and cold, direct cruelty that’s worth a watch. It’s not always a hit, but it’s always bluntly, rationally interesting.

Score: 85