THE RETURN (2018)

Hybrid feature, 84 min

Director Malene Choi

Scriptwriter Sissel Dalsgaard Thomsen

Producers Julie Friis Walenciak, Julie Rix Bomholt, Katja Adomeit

Director of Photography Catherine Pattinama Coleman

Editor Julius Krebs Damsbo

Sound Designers Anne Gry Friis Kristensen, Kevin Koch

Composer Philip Nicolai Flindt

Cast Thomas Hwan, Karoline Sofie Lee

Produced by Walenciak Film, Adomeit Film, Cine Everywhere

Supported by New Danish Screen, Seoul Film Commission

Sales Pluto Film

Two Danish-Korean adoptees return for the first time to the country they were once born in. Confronted with the spirit of their Motherland and the personal stories of the fellow adoptees they meet in the city of Seoul, Karoline and Thomas are hurled into an emotionally disorienting journey that forces both of them to question and face their own destiny and identity.

Operating in a hybrid field THE RETURN is partially based on director Malene Choi's personal experience as well as stories shared by adoptees that Malene encountered in Seoul while shooting the film.

Selected Festivals and Awards

2018

International Film Festival Rotterdam – Bright Future Award – Special Mention

Göteborg Film Festival – FIPRESCI Award – Special Mention

Vilnius IFF 'Kino pavasaris' – Competition of European Debuts

CPH:DOX

Hot Docs International Documentary Festival

Film Fest Sundsvall, Sweden – Nordic Mid Competition

Jeonju IFF – Special Jury Prize

Seattle IFF

Edinburgh IFF

Helsinki IFF Love & Anarchy

Hamburg FF, Germany – Competition for Sichtwechsel Film Award

Carbonia FF – International Feature Film Competition

São Paulo – New Directors Competition

Valladolid IFF – Best Film Award –  Meeting Point Competition

AFI Fest –  New Auteurs Competition

2019

Danish Film Academy  – 'Robert' Nominee for Best Documentary