Seoul Searching

Seoul Searching is a 2016 South Korean comedy-drama film written and directed by Benson Lee and starring Justin Chon, Jessika Van, Cha In-Pyo and Teo Yoo.[1][2][3][4]

Seoul Searching
Film poster
Directed byBenson Lee
Written byBenson Lee
Produced byAndrea Chung (producer) (produced by)
Benson Lee (produced by)
Brigette Noh (co-producer)
Starring
  • Justin Chon
  • Jessika Van
  • Teo Yoo
  • Esteban Ahn
  • Rosalina Leigh
  • Kang Byul
  • Albert Kong
  • Cha In-pyo
CinematographyDaniel Katz
Edited bySteven M. Choe
Benson Lee
Music byWoody Pak
Production
companies
Bowery Hills Entertainment
Mondo Paradiso Films
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
December 2017 (Netflix)
Running time
105 minutes
CountriesUnited States
South Korea
China
LanguagesEnglish
German
Korean
Spanish
Budget$2.1 million

Premise

Seoul, 1986. A raucous gaggle of Korean teenagers spill out of the Gimpo airport and onto buses that transport them to a location just outside the city. There, these high schoolers sent from all over the world—the U.S., Mexico, London, and Hamburg—are participating in a government-sponsored summer program to help them connect with their heritage. With a summer of partying ahead of them, they're on a crash course to bring shame to their families, their ancestors, and their hosts—but with any luck, they might just figure out how to make friends, fall in love, and absorb some of their roots along the way. (Sundance Institute)

Cast

Release

The film made its worldwide premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015.[5][6][7]

The film was then released in theaters in New York City on June 17, 2016.[8] It was also released in theaters in Los Angeles on June 24, 2016.[9] The film was also shown at the Regal Medlock Crossing 18 in Johns Creek, Georgia from August 5 to August 11 of 2016.[10]

Netflix acquired the streaming rights of the movie in Winter 2016 and released it December 2017 worldwide. It has been dubbed and/or subtitled in over 15 languages.

Reception

Since its release in December 2017 on Netflix, the film has topped over 30 the "Best of Netflix" lists and in 2021 alone it topped the "Best of Netflix" lists in over 10 publications including: PopSugar, OprahDaily.com[11][12]Oprah Magazine,[13] Town & Country (magazine), Seventeen (American magazine), Teen Vogue[14]

The film has a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[15] Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com awarded the film three stars.[16] Stephanie Merry of The Washington Post gave it two stars out of four.[17] Timothy Tau of IndieWire graded the film an A−.[18]

The New York Times gave it a "NYT Critics Pick" in 2016.

Justin Chang of Variety gave the film a positive review and wrote, "A unique portrait of the Korean immigrant experience distinguishes writer-director Benson Lee's messy but endearing '80s-set comedy."[19]

Josh Terry of Deseret News gave it a negative review and wrote, "In better hands, Seoul Searching might have been a nice balance of ’80s nostalgia and sincere coming of age. Unfortunately, what we have here is a missed opportunity."[20]

Justin Lowe of The Hollywood Reporter gave it a positive review and wrote, "Lee’s most accessible film yet looks poised to capitalize on enduring 80s nostalgia and a refreshingly appealing premise that could see the film crossing over from niche bookings to much broader appeal."[21]

The movie was the first mainstream feature to highlight the Korean adoptee experience and diaspora in America. The film became a flagship movie for Korean adoptees which director Benson Lee said he included as they were part of the diaspora Korean adoptees experienced in their respective countries.

References
  1. Watercutter, Angela (28 January 2015). "How Throwback Flick Seoul Searching Puts a New Spin on Teen Comedies". Wired. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  2. Lee, Traci G. (24 July 2015). "'Seoul Searching' Remixes Classic Summer Camp Teen Films". NBC News. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  3. Karen Grigsby Bates (25 April 2013). "Benson Lee Goes 'Seoul Searching'". NPR. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  4. Weintraub, Steve "Frosty" (12 February 2015). "Director Benson Lee Talks SEOUL SEARCHING". Collider. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  5. Mike Fleming Jr. (23 January 2015). "'Seoul Searching' Helmer Benson Lee Signs With WME – Sundance". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  6. McClintock, Pamela; Ford, Rebecca (26 January 2015). "Sundance: 'Seoul Searching' Director Met With Consultants Familiar With North Korea". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  7. Johnson, G. Allen (6 March 2015). "'Seoul Searching': A John Hughes-inspired South Korean film". San Francisco Gate. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  8. Weintraub, Steve "Frosty" (10 June 2016). "Exclusive Clip From 'Seoul Searching' Tells You to Think with Dick". Collider. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  9. Eric Ortiz Garcia (16 June 2016). "Interview: Ken Jeong On Why SEOUL SEARCHING Is His Favorite Korean-American Film Of All Time". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  10. Dixon, Kristal (4 August 2016). "'SEOUL SEARCHING' Comes to Johns Creek". Patch. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  11. Nicolaou, Elena (22 April 2021). "29 Best Foreign Films on Netflix to Watch Now".
  12. La Jeunesse, Marilyn (29 April 2021). "33 Best Summer Movies to make your Summer All-Time".
  13. Chon, Monica (17 June 2022). "The 16 Best Korean Movies You Can Stream on Netflix Right Now".
  14. La Jeunesse, Marilyn (29 April 2021). "33 Best Summer Movies to Make Your Summer All-Time".
  15. "Seoul Searching". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  16. Allen, Nick (17 June 2016). "Seoul Searching". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  17. Merry, Stephanie (7 July 2016). "'Seoul Searching': A hint of John Hughes in South Korea". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  18. Tau, Timothy (20 June 2015). "LAFF Review: Hilarious And Heartfelt 'Seoul Searching' Is A Throwback To '80s Coming Of Age Films". IndieWire. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  19. Chang, Justin (23 January 2015). "Sundance Film Review: 'Seoul Searching'". Variety. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  20. Terry, Josh (13 February 2015). "Disappointing 'Seoul Searching' isn't what audiences are looking for". Deseret News. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  21. Lowe, Justin (23 January 2015). "'Seoul Searching': Sundance Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
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