A Soul Soothing Watch: Review of See You on Venus

Review by Anam Tariq

See You on Venus, directed by Joaquín Llamas and released on Netflix in November, 2023, is a soul-soothing movie and the best one that I have watched recently. It’s a light, not so uncommon watch but along the way it brushes up on some facts. It is a movie adaptation of the YA romance novel of the same name by Victoria Vinuesa.

The movie stars Virginia Gardner and Alex Aiono in lead roles, playing the characters of 18-year-old teenagers– Amelia (in short Mia) and Kyle respectively. The movie is about Amelia’s search for her birth mother and Kyle’s search for a new beginning in life which takes them both to Spain. In their journey they end up making a difference in each other’s lives.

The movie touches upon a few things. First of all, the movie deals with Kyle’s car accident, which leads to his friend being injured severely and the death of another boy while Kyle comes out unhurt, highlighting the dangers of incautious driving which causes the deaths of so many people every year. 

Also, the movie portrays post-accident trauma through Kyle, who feels guilty for the mishap, blames himself, and couldn’t remember exactly what happened. Frustrated, he is unable to come out of the situation and almost gives up on living. The movie does a good job in making us realize what such people go through after having met with their accidents. I am also watching another series right now which deals with a similar situation of post-accident trauma. 

Then, through Amelia we get to know what it is to be brought up by foster parents. She has lived with many foster families and longs for her own mother’s love, longs to meet her who left her when she was a baby. Though I am surprised why they do not clarify the reason her mother left her. Amelia so wishes to be loved, to be wanted. 

I also feel surprised by the part in the movie where Amelia says that the place that she wants to go to is Venus, a utopia where she imagines (I paraphrase) there is no war, no hunger, no pain, where parents love their children, don’t leave them. But in the end, it is in the company of Kyle that she finds her Venus, where she feels loved, wanted, where she finds solace.

“I’ve always looked at Venus as a place, but it turns out my Venus was a person.” – Amelia Faith

Most importantly, the movie is also about bringing a change in someone’s life, a change for the better. Helping out others in whatever ways possible. Kyle, who feels disoriented, finds happiness fill his life again after meeting the jovial Amelia. Amelia believes in making a difference in someone’s life. And that’s what she does with Kyle and in turn Kyle gives her back too. It he who convinces her to undergo an inevitable surgery otherwise she may not have had it and would have died. 

“Some people change your life forever. Some people make you strive to be a better person. Some people help you find yourself right when you’re ready to give up.” – Kyle

Both Mia and Kyle are grateful for the company of each other and hence this quote:

“There will always be somebody somewhere who is happy that you were born.”

On this positive axis the film rotates giving us a hopeful vibe all along. 

In my opinion, See You on Venus initially felt similar to Love and Gelato (the 2022 movie where the heroine goes to visit Italy to know more about her mother and finds her life completely changed for the better) but turns out it is much better! I also appreciate the gorgeous natural scenery in the background and the aesthetics of the film. The movie exudes a refreshing summer feel.