Return to Seoul15

Directed by Davy Chou | South Korea | 2022 | 1h 59m | Korean & French w/ English subtitles | Starring Park Ji-min, Oh Kwang-rok, Kim Sun-young, Louis-Do de Lencquesaing, Guka Han

Wanting to reconnect with her origins, a 25-year-old woman impulsively returns to South Korea, the country of her birth before she was adopted by a French couple. As she begins the search for her biological parents in a country she knows little about, her life begins to move in new and unexpected directions. Featuring a stunning debut performance from Ji-Min, this shapeshifting character portrait of a restless woman caught between two worlds sensitively explores identity, belonging, and cultural duality.

Reviews

‘Few movies have ever been more perfectly in tune with their protagonists than Davy Chou’s jagged, restless, and rivetingly unpredictable Return to Seoul.’
★★★★★
David Ehrlich, IndieWire

‘This one will stand the test of time: knotty, electric, powerful, soul-searching.’
★★★★
Ella Kemp, Little White Lies

Sorry - you missed it!

We showed Return to Seoul between May 19, 2023 and May 27, 2023.

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Today (Sunday 14th December)
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14:00

Kino Kids Muppet Christmas Carol U
1h 29m
Kino Kids Cinema Club
The Muppets tell their version of Dickens's classic festive tale about a bitter old man's redemption. Gonzo, Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang lead us through this heartwarming family film filled with memorable songs to get you in the mood for Christmas.

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16:30

The Ice Tower 15
1h 57m | French w/ English subtitles
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19:15

Alpha 18
2h 8m | French w/ English subtitles
Rebellious Alpha clashes with her doctor mother amid fears she’s infected by a terrifying blood-borne disease turning victims to marble. Julia Ducournau fuses body horror with emotional intensity, creating a visceral coming-of-age tale about identity, love, and fragile family bonds.

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Tomorrow (Monday 15th December)
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17:30

Pillion 18
Descriptive Subtitles
1h 47m
Quiet traffic warden Colin’s life radically shifts when a domineering biker draws him into an unexpected BDSM relationship. Navigating desire, vulnerability, and boundaries, he uncovers new emotional depths. Harry Lighton’s fearless debut blends comedy, kink, and tenderness, starring Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgård.

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20:00

CUTS: Secret Santa 18
Will you get what you want for CUTSMAS? Join CUTS (Cinema Under The Stairs) for their annual festive knees-up filled with mulled wine, popcorn, prizes, and a mystery Christmas classic movie selected by the audience! Ticket cost £10, book and vote today!

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Our beautiful art deco inspired auditorium can be found just off East Oxford's Cowley Road.We are open 7 days a week. We open the cinema and box office 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of each film, and the Box Office then closes 10 minutes after the film starts. We only show a few adverts – less than most cinemas – and we only play a couple of trailers, so please don’t be late as the film itself starts very close to the advertised time!

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