Write a short summary of what happens in the film

A cosmonaut has enjoyed a life of adventure, accomplishment and true love. Now retired, and his wife deceased, his life feels empty and meaningless. To try to cheer himself up, he checks in at the Ritz-Carlton Yalong Bay, but the change of scenery doesn’t bring him the comfort he was hoping for. Then one day the hotel staff realise who their esteemed guest, and decide to lift his spirits with some surprises that bring to mind his glorious space-faring days.

Cultural/Context information for the jury

The film is part of Ritz-Carlton's series "Let Us Stay With You", telling the true stories of guests experiences staying at Ritz-Carlton resorts around the world

Tell the jury about type(s) of animation used and summarise any relevant challenges or techniques.

The piece was executed in hand-drawn 2D cel animation. The storyboard was developed for the initial pitch (1 week), we spent 1 week exploring the design, followed by 4 weeks to produce all the characters and backgrounds, the animatic (2 weeks) and finally the animation (6 weeks). Our idea was to use bold lighting to create a rich atmosphere and dramatic mood.   For the characters, we aimed for simplicity and elegance in their body forms, but with enough detail to portray the age and ethnicity of the characters. The clothes needed to place the characters in specific eras and locations, starting in a 1960s Russian winter and finishing in summer in modern day China.