'The Lost Princess' Review: A Visionary Trip Through Time, Love, and Ghosts
- Romey Norton
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Romey Norton - May 13, 2025
Suppose your idea of a good film combines Ayahuasca-induced time travel, star-crossed lovers, and a haunted Moroccan castle. In that case, The Lost Princess might just be your next cinematic obsession.
Directed with a blend of serious and dreamlike flair, The Lost Princess invites audiences into a hallucinatory journey that defies genre expectations. Part historical drama, part supernatural romance, and part spiritual fever dream, the film weaves a tangled narrative full of longing, legacy, and the ghosts that never quite leave us.
The story kicks off with Alec Touati, a globe-trotting American billionaire who trades boardrooms for brew as he undergoes an Ayahuasca ritual that launches him into a vivid vision of war and ancestral ties. It's there he meets Hana, a captivating woman whose family history is entangled with the castle’s tragic past. It’s a classic case of forbidden love, and all about protecting this magical castle's legacy. Alec gives up his job, relationship, and life to find the castle and save it.
The acting is intriguing and compelling, with some new and recognisable faces (Eric Roberts, Robert Knepper, and Gary Dourdan); everyone commits to their roles and tells this story as authentically as possible. The chemistry between the lovers, both past and present, feels genuine, if occasionally swept away by the tide of visual symbolism. Still, something is mesmerising about watching personal trauma, colonial history, and the psychedelic mind melt into one grand tale of redemption and rediscovery.
The cinematography is a visual treat, filled with sun-drenched courtyards, candlelit interiors, and trance-like sequences that blur reality and vision. My favourite thing about the film is its score. The music throughout helps drive the emotion in each scene, from gentle orchestral to country-pop; it’s got something for everyone. The striking costume design is worthy of a mention too; some of the outfits chosen help build the world they’re in, from a Wall Street suit to old-time army attire. The attention to detail shouldn’t be missed.
My only real criticisms are when it comes to the story. While the film is sweeping into dreamy drama, there needs to be a little more conflict to keep the audience invested. There’s a lot of talking, which could have been done with more action. There’s a few time-jumps in the final act to rush the story and end along and show the audiences the happy ever after, which we knew was coming. So, the story/plot is a little predictable, but there is comfort in the familiar.
If you're a fan of films like The Fountain, The Fall, or even The English Patient, The Lost Princess offers a similarly poetic (and occasionally perplexing) narrative. It may not be everyone’s cup of psychedelic tea, but it’s an evocative, bold film that deserves credit for its heart and originality. It's a haunting exploration of love lost, love reclaimed, and the ancestral ties that bind us.
The Lost Princess is available now on digital platforms
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