Film Review: Cosmic Rhapsody - A Journey of Hope

Sometimes, the biggest events inspire us to create. That’s the very sentiment at the heart of Cosmic Rhapsody, a short film and orchestral piece that transforms real-world turmoil into a stunning message of hope and resilience. Directed by Susan Mey Lee Lim and Christina Teenz Tan, this powerful work draws inspiration from one of the most extraordinary moments of 2020 - NASA astronauts returning to space aboard SpaceX's CrewDragon, the first mission of its kind in nearly a decade. In a year when the world seemed to be falling apart, this mission reminded us to look beyond our struggles and turn our eyes to the skies.

The journey of Cosmic Rhapsody began with a song, Is Anybody Out There?, born from that same moment of inspiration. We see Susan Lim standing in the snow, holding a printed tweet she posted just before CrewDragon’s historic launch in May 2020. In the tweet, she shared a short animated video set to the song and wished the mission luck: an effort that caught the attention of none other than Elon Musk, who replied with the fitting words: “Open your eyes, look up to the skies.” That exchange became the seed of a project that would evolve into something far greater.

The film is as much about its message as it is about its breathtaking execution. Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, the music composed by Manu Martin perfectly complements the film’s stunning visuals and profound narrative. The story takes us through the chaos of 2020: wildfires raging, masked workers cleaning empty streets, and juxtaposes it with visions of space travel and humanity’s search for solutions beyond Earth. As the narrator beautifully puts it, this is “music born from the ashes,” a story of climate change, and the limitless potential of human and AI collaboration.

What makes Cosmic Rhapsody so compelling is its ability to blend real events with a fictional narrative, creating a vision of hope rooted in our reality. The film doesn’t shy away from the darkness we’ve faced, but it also shows how art and music can illuminate the path forward. From the devastation of wildfires to the promise of exploring where stars are born, the film captures the essence of human perseverance and our eternal quest for something greater.

Though the film serves as a preview for a larger project, its impact is undeniable. The editing is sharp, the storytelling seamless, and the message crystal clear: even in our darkest moments, there is beauty, hope, and the power of creation. As the film’s narrator invites us to “join us on a journey through the cosmos,” we’re reminded that resilience, art, and vision can guide us toward a brighter future.

In February 2025, "Cosmic Rhapsody - A Journey of Hope" won Best Inspirational Film at LAFA.