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