Return to Seoul is the compelling and unpredictable film from director Davy Chou (Diamond Island). Freddie (explosive newcomer Park Ji-Min) has returned to South Korea for the first time since her adoption and move to France. Freddie suddenly finds herself embarking on an unexpected journey in a country where she knows very little, including the language, to learn about where she came from.
For in-depth thoughts on Return To Seoul, please see my colleague Devin McGrath-Conwell’s review from its original theatrical release here.
Video Quality
Return To Seoul comes to Blu-Ray in a 1080p presentation that is simply gorgeous. The film is not bursting with vivid colors, but there are specific environments that come alive for something truly sumptuous. Highlights are handled beautifully, along with the deep blacks that do not suffer from any compression artifacts or banding. Skin tones are very detailed and consistent all around. This film deftly captures the distinct production design throughout where you can see an incredible amount of detail. The interiors are crisp in their clarity with objects maintaining their form even in the shadows. This presentation delivers on all fronts thanks to Sony.
Audio Quality
The Blu-Ray disc comes with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track in the original mix of languages which brings the soundscape to life famously. The environmental effects of Seoul create a bustling energy that aids the narrative. Activity in the low end is not substantial throughout the presentation, but it adds some texture when it makes sense. The music is showcased beautifully here with a gently enveloping use of the surround speakers. Dialogue comes through clearly without ever being overshadowed by the environmental sounds or the score. The sound design is nothing too ambitious, but it plays well with the visuals with all of the sounds positioned just right in the mix. This release is very good from a sound perspective. There are optional English, English SDH, French and Spanish subtitles provided.
Special Features
- Theatrical Trailer: The two-minute trailer is provided here that accurately captures the tone of the film.
- Previews: This disc provides trailers for Parallel Mothers, One Fine Morning, The Son, Compartment No. 6 and Living.
Final Thoughts
Return To Seoul is a deeply transfixing narrative which gently reveals itself over its deliberate runtime. While there are elements that you may wish could be expanded upon, this is more of a testament to how deeply you begin to care for these characters throughout their journey that you feel the need to know as much as possible. The central performance from Park Ji-Min is one of the great discoveries of the year, just as the film stands as one of our favorites thus far. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has provided a new Blu-Ray with a stellar A/V presentation but not much in the way of supplemental features. If you are a fan of independent cinema, do not let this one pass you up. Highly Recommended
Return To Seoul is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
