Aeni Film ● Review: Lost in Starlight

Very Average Joe
Jun 2
2 min read

Updated: Jun 3

English Title: Lost in Starlight

Korean Title: 이 별에 필요한 [lit. this star needs]

Director(s): Han Ji-won

Screenwriter(s): Han Ji-won & Kang Hyun-joo

Studio: Climax Studio

Released: 2025

Runtime: 1h 36m

Starring: Kim Tae-ri, Hong Kyung

My Verdict: Simple and predictable romance but well-written enough for what it is. Superb rendering.

● In 2026, a Mars expeditionary team dies after a quake. In 2051, Nan-young, the daughter of one of the team members, intends to follow in her mother’s footsteps to be on the next team to Mars.

● Whilst trying to find a repairer for her old record player, she bumps into Jay, a young man who happens to be a repairer. Despite her aspirations, which Jay is aware of, the two grow closer.

● The sci-fi premise—that is, the upcoming Mars expedition—is merely a method for an impending separation of the two to introduce dramatic tension. The film is not “hard” sci-fi. It is barely a soft sci-fi; it does make decent use of holograms in communication. It is essentially a romance.

● Partly due to the death of Nan-young’s mother, there are certain flash cuts and images which are moderately arty, a mix of the poetic with a dash of “psychological thriller”. Thankfully, these are not overdone.

● The plot is simple. Whilst it is generally well-written, there is nothing particularly original nor are there any twists. The narrative follows the usual plot points.

● It is not a spoiler to state that Nan-young does go to Mars and face dangers although said dangers occur too conveniently for the sake of dramatic action.

● Visually, it is mostly well done. The animation (motion) is at times jerky. That is the style, either one likes it or not. The rendering itself, especially of the backgrounds and environment, is superb.

● It is appreciated that the character designs are not highly attractive like most anime. The two leads are meant to be ordinary-looking. This is necessary as the two are not exactly ordinary: one is aiming to go to Mars and the other aspiring to be a musician, both actually having the ability and a realistic chance to achieve their aims.

● The voice acting is solid for the two leads. The minor characters, however, sound a little off. This could be partly due to the sound mix.

● On balance, it is a straightforward romance that looks good. It may be predictable but it is well-written enough for what it is. The structure and pacing are nice, taking an unhurried approach without being slow. It could be a few minutes tighter, which would free up some time for a more substantial denouement but that is no big deal either way. It works as a film and not as a 16-episode K-drama which it thankfully is not.