Mieke was adopted from South Korea to the Netherlands as a child. When she visits her original family in Seoul, they navigate acceptance, cultural differences, and forgiveness, while still healing from decades of separation.

Born in South Korea but adopted by Dutch parents and raised in the Netherlands, Mieke lives happily with her partner in Utrecht. When her guilt-stricken original parents reach out, the family embarks on a decades-long journey of reconciliation and soul-searching. As Mieke prepares for a trip to Seoul to celebrate her recent marriage, the family navigates cultural differences, acceptance, and forgiveness, while continuing to heal from years of separation. The story unfolds through the perspectives of various family members, offering a rich and multifaceted narrative.

Filmmaker Jota MUN intimately captures Mieke’s vulnerable steps of coming to terms with herself and her identities, while also sympathetically giving space for her original family’s grief and reflection on their decision to give her up. Profoundly layered and nuanced, Between Goodbyes is a heartfelt portrayal of the enduring love within a family. At the same time, it courageously critiques mainstream narratives surrounding transnational adoption.