After being hospitalized, a young student named Yo becomes infatuated with her nurse Yayoi; however after Yo is released, she learns that the nurse had quit her job. Still never far in her memory about a year later Yo, wandering the streets at night to escape her abusive family, comes across Yayoi who is now working as a prostitute. With a strong desire to save the woman she once admired, Yo forces herself into Yayoi’s life crashing at her place and trying to force her to change.
The result of Yo’s pressure forces an awkward romance as Yayoi is trying to fill a void left by a miscarriage and Yo is coming to terms with her sexuality after suffering abuse from her mother’s boyfriend for years. The pair’s interactions become more intense and involved as they both fight for the happiness of the other while trying to find their own peace.
“A Crimson Star” leaves a strong visual impact, with both open and intimate spaces. The Japanese countryside is vibrant and serene, and the bedroom interactions between the two main protagonists feel realistic and personable. The peaceful visuals are further elevated by a well-chosen score that uses classical piano melodies. However, the serene atmosphere is rather inconsistent as it becomes marred by nighttime scenes, specifically the ones shot in an apartment space. The lighting chosen feels realistic but does not convey well to film, resulting in some of the more intimate moments being shrouded in darkness, as the actors expressions and movements are hard to make out. Although this inconsistency can be frustrating, the film does leave a strong impact in regards to visuals (The review was made based upon the initial cut, but in latest cut, this inconsistency has been toned down much).