Kathmandu, Jan. 7 -- I' can make you feel lonely-not because the film explores solitude, but because a few viewers may walk out while it is still playing.

A film can be slow, complex, or demanding, yet still hold its audience. 'Eklo-I' struggles to do that, even when its ambition deserves acknowledgement.

Marketed as Nepal's first science fiction film, 'Eklo-I' takes a bold leap in an industry dominated by social melodramas and familiar family conflicts. Creating something new in a market that often rewards the familiar is not easy. But ambition, unfortunately, does not always translate into effective storytelling.

Set in 2090, in the aftermath of a global pandemic in 2030, the story follows astronauts returning to Earth who discover a...