Return to Seoul

Freddie’s journey in Return to Seoul is driven by her search for identity and belonging, haunted by the ambiguity of her origins. Her impulsive arrival in Korea is a subconscious pull toward her past, even as she lives a relatively comfortable life in France with loving parents. Throughout the film, she oscillates between moments of reckless energy and deep vulnerability, revealing her fear of emotional exposure and her struggle to connect authentically. Her relationship with her birth family is fraught; they are both overbearing and unfamiliar, and her discomfort is heightened by her own inner turmoil. This tension culminates when she meets her birth father and his family, but her silence and mixed emotions underline her profound unease and disconnection.

As the story progresses, Freddie’s tumultuous romantic entanglements mirror her internal chaos. Her affection is often manipulative, driven by her need to be loved and validated, as well as her fears of abandonment. Her relationship with Korea itself becomes symbolic—her version of addiction and self-sabotage. She craves the acknowledgment she missed out on, but her fragile ego leads her to lash out at those attempting to care for her, especially when she perceives her father’s happiness or her boyfriend’s attention as threats. Despite her destructive cycles, there’s a hint of hope when she begins to confront her pain, evidenced by her genuine effort to change and her tentative connection with her mother.

In the film’s closing moments, Freddie adopts her original name, a symbolic step toward reclaiming her identity. She appears to find some peace through this act of self-acknowledgment and the hope for reconciliation with her past. However, the ending leaves us uncertain: she types an email to her mother, claiming she’s happy, but whether she actually sends it remains unknown. The email could represent her wish for closure or an act of denial, as her traumatised psyche might be too fearful or insecure to follow through. The film’s conclusion suggests that her future is still open-ended—her journey toward healing is ongoing, and perhaps her growth depends on whether she embraces her true self and allows love to heal her wounds. Ultimately, Return to Seoul leaves us with a hopeful but cautious sense that Freddie’s path to self-acceptance is complex, fragile, and full of unresolved possibilities.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:57