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Aftersun is one of those films that wants to remind you of how precious time spent with one's family is. In the film we see the relationship between a father and his daughter, who spend a vacation at a resort. Yes, it is a mundane and simple plot, but it is told in such a beautiful way. Seeing the father taking care of his daughter (and vice versa), seeing the two of them happily spending good times, made me smile throughout the film.
All opposed with scenes in which we see, in my interpretation, the father's depression, the unreadiness to have a daughter at such a young age for him. But despite everything, what matters most to him is seeing her smile, and that made me emotional.
Various scenes brought tears to my eyes, especially the final shot, when we realize that the two of them, after the vacation, never saw each other again, and all that was left for the daughter of her dead father were the recordings they made (my guess, the father committed suicide because of the weight of too much responsibility, perhaps? I don't know).
Incredible film, incredible debut by Charlotte Wells, catch it up.
9/10
Slow and miserable in the time honoured tradition of British films (im british).
Outstanding performance from the little girl. But why is this getting such good reviews?
I can walk down the street and see these ppl and events any given day. Nothing cinematic here.
Will have forgotten everything that happened in this movie by tomorrow. Because nothing happens.
Don’t know what critics and audiences are seeing i this.
Dear British filmmakers, please show more vision and ambition.
This Should Have Been a Short Film - they could've cut at least one hour and we would still get the same message.
I wanted to love it, but got literally nothing out of this film. After all the raving reviews it got I was so let down. This movie is trying so hard to be profound but sometimes less is too little.
I absolutely appreciate the artistry (visuals are pretty good), performances, and subtle storytelling in this film, but I was struggling to stay engaged. These movies are tricky because you either get into it and spend 1.5 hours very peacefully or you get incredibly bored. Sadly, I felt absolutely nothing except boredom. I feel completely empty after watching this and quite surprised at the reactions that people have towards this one.
The pacing is incredibly slow, almost static. It pretends to be interesting by using human characters that are struggling through mental health, and I think people are projecting onto it much more than what the movie actually has. But stories require characters development (we know next to nothing about Callum's past, we also know next to nothing about adult Sophie other than the fact that she is a lesbian and has a newborn child, so I couldn’t connect emotionally to them or their relationship), or at the very least a fresh perspective or poignant commentary, none of which is here in this predictable and aimless movie. It felt like one of the stories you skip over when you're just trying to get to a recipe for chicken soup.
I really understand what's the meaning (adult Sophie reflecting on 30 year old dad and 11 year old Sophie on summer holiday and all of the emotions that could entail), but it didn't worked for me how I thought would be. I don't mind a film where nothing happens, but honestly nothing happens, this was a slow burn with no direction and no revelation. The movie doesn't want to entertain you. It's equivalent to watching someone's vacation slideshow and then expecting you to feel what they felt.
The last shot, however, was stunning but it wasn't enough to redeem the film for me. I'm not arguing that this is a bad movie, and I'm in the minority, so clearly I missed something but it is what it is. People with daddy issues will love this film though.
Aftersun is a beautifully shot simplistic picture about the relationship between a young father and her daughter during their trip to a resort in Turkey.
While nothing seemingly happens during this trip, we are shown two perspectives of the father. One, as seen by his daughter, of a normal man, funny, loving and having a good time with her.
But we see glimpses of the father throughout the film, as someone who is not satisfied, he seems to be struggling with depression, hasn't found what he wants to do in life, is having some financial problems and looks like he had a very unhappy upbringing. He's probably been depressed for a very long time as there is a scene where he is speaking to the scuba instructor and says that he didn't think he'd ever make it to 30 and expects not to reach 40 years of age.
Peppered throughout the film are also scenes of the daughter, older, watching the footage of this trip in her home.
The final scenes are lovely, as they show the pair dancing to the tune of "Under Pressure" on their last night in Turkey and their goodbye at the airport.
The film ends in the goodbye and it seems to be heavily implied that they never see eachother again as the father likely commited suicide not long after.
A bit slow at times but wonderfully acted and written, the father's depression is shown in a very subtle and relatable way and the final scenes are quite strong. 7/10.
Director Charlotte Wells' feature film debut really floored me. There is a sense of danger in the air throughout the entire runtime, so you always have the feeling of an impending catastrophe. This ensures that the very leisurely pace of the story never causes boredom. At its core, "Aftersun" is about a young woman who remembers a summer vacation she spent with her father when she was eleven. And it's obvious that she has something to process. The memories themselves are very warm and happy. But at the same time, they are shot with such an intangible sense of sadness that you don't even know what to feel anymore.
The film is carried by the two fantastic lead actors, Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio. They have great chemistry with each other and are both very good at conveying their feelings with few words. The look of the film is also impressive. Wells uses camcorder footage in a few places, giving it the feel of a vacation video mixed with memories. Furthermore, everything appears to be very authentic. Both the main characters' relationship and the hotel and other hotel guests feel real. I am sure that some viewers will look differently at their own childhood vacations after watching the movie. Last but not least, I have to praise the choice of music. It plays an important role in two places, and especially the song at the end is a real eye-opener.
I will certainly watch "Aftersun" many more times. For me, it is clearly one of the best and most emotional movies of 2022.
Under Pressure hit me hard with this edit :(
VIP4Not a lot happens in Charlotte Welles' debut movie. And yet the depth of feeling is enormous. Quietly devastating.
You may not have to personally relate to what this movie is getting at to enjoy it, but this really hit close to home for me. The slow burn and the unease that is just beyond the edge of every scene as we go through a weekend holiday with a trouble father and his daughter ring very true and it feels familiar. The feelings we have about our parents when we are kids and as we start to get older and realize or reflect on the fact that they are just people, in some cases very flawed people. The way you might be left, with just memories and regrets as life moves on.
Slow burn story of deeply troubled,depressed father trying to make an enjoyable lifetime memory for his pre-teen child , really worth watching
Sombre, melancholy, touching, simple.
Aftersun is a meditative experience that won't be for everyone, but those that love slowburn character studies and shoegaze storytelling will find much to sink their teeth into with this one, especially those willing to reflect and piece together all they can from this open ended story.
--- I will now ramble in full spoilers about this movie, so please don't read until you've finished the film! ---
I really enjoy the meta angle that Aftersun takes with it's storytelling. We're seeing this holiday from Sophies youth via snippets of home video and her own recollections of the trip. We're to assume, from the parts that we do see, that Sophies father is a very troubled man suffering from some kind of depression and anxiety. We see hints of a person doing everything they can to combat these afflictions by practising meditation, tai chi and consuming endless self-help books that we see scattered around the hotel room. We're picking up hints and clues from an adult perspective that would have been lost on a child, just like Sophie is rewatching the home video of this trip. We're never finitely told what happens to Calum, but we're to assume that Sophie never sees him again following this trip, so all we're left with is the deteriorating memories of a trip 20 years ago and a sporadic home video to try and piece together what was going on with Calum all those years ago. Was the broken wrist a failed suicide attempt? Why was he waterboarding himself in the bathroom with a towel? Why did he throw himself into the sea in an apparent attempt while on holiday on the eve of his birthday? Why, when money is seemingly an issue, is he taking his daughter on an expensive trip to Turkey and buying a very expensive rug? Is that the plan? Is this his final spending spree before the inevitable?
Aftersun leaves you with the same incomplete feeling of a child left behind. What could you have done? What could you have changed? Was any of it your fault? Was there something you missed because you were too young and naive to see it? Maybe if I watch the home video one more time, I'll be able to gleam the real reason why he did it. And for that, Aftersun is a great piece of film. It's meditative and open ended, with no definite answer, but while most would say that's a negative, I think it is the movies greatest strength. As a child of the 90's, I know there are many home videos somewhere in my parents house of trips just like this one, and I'm sure when the inevitable day comes I too will scrub through those videos to try and understand my parents better when I was so oblivious and young.
This was so incredibly moving, I don't have words. Paul Mescal has such soul and subtlety as an actor, I can't wait to see what else he does in the future. I loved this, so sad and beautiful.
Beautiful and incredibly layered. It’s very easygoing and slightly melancholic on the surface, but there’s so much more to it. It packs a strong emotional punch, as well as ideas about memory and our evolving relationship with the dead based on our own age , but you have to piece most of that together by yourself. It’s extremely subtle in places, there’s essentially no plot and most of the building blocks for the characters only become clear in hindsight. Fantastic acting as well, the cinematography is nice and occasionally poetic. Maybe I would’ve liked a few more standout scenes, because this can be patience testing on a first watch, though I’m convinced that won’t be an issue for me with subsequent viewings.
8.5/10
"I think it's nice that we share the same sky."
Our memories and video recorders are the closest thing to a time machine. Whenever we want, at any time, we go back to those moments, replaying constantly. It can be good, bad, or embarrassing. The feeling itself is in a time capsule.
However, it can also be unreliable, as our imperfect minds fill in the blanks, we either miss or choose how we like to see it.
Well, Aftersun feels like that. It's a series of scenes that are from a childhood memory. Even after a year since I saw it, it stuck with me, and I often think about certain scenes. It has now become a memory within a memory.
On the surface, not much happens, as it is a father and daughter enjoying a holiday together. But besides the sunny weather, beautiful locations, and escapism, you can tell there's something wrong.
There are no explosive emotional scenes that would be in an acting compilation on YouTube. Instead, the only crying scene we see in the film, but the character has its back turned to the camera. We never see it, as it's a personal moment that even in a private room, they still feel vulnerable.
After the film was over, I was depressed. I watched it at a film festival close to where I live, but out of all the movies I watched, this was the hardest pill to swallow. I left it for a bit, like I do because movies should be timeless and open for discussion at any time and not seen as outdated or late.
The film shows little but leaves you with a deep impression.
The performances from Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio are fantastic, with the chemistry between the two feeling natural and well-lived. It was playful, funny, and incredibly tragic.
Writer/director Charlotte Wells made a beautiful and painful film that put her on the map for me as a director to look out for.
It’s a movie that I probably won’t watch again. And no, I would not take that as a negative on the movie part. There are plenty of movies I love that I find difficult to ever return to. With Aftersun, I will remember it as a memory. The characters, the brilliant shots, the dialogue, etc. All in my head. I am sure someone can better articulate the film than I do, but that is what I got from it.
This is an incredibly boring Movie. A complete waste of time.
Take distance and returning to your memories, understand hers father's condition and see the same actions in her present from a mature, a nostalgic film.
it wasn't for me, but it wasn't a waste of time either
I am not fucking ready for movies set in the '90s to be described as 'period' films
I was intrigued by the trailer, but the film turned out a bit empty. It does not add much on the relationship issues between father and daughter.
I wanted to like this film. Just because a film has a deep meaning and is beautifully shot doesn’t mean it’s free from criticism. The acting is great but that’s where the pros end for me. It is extremely slow and for a while it just leaves you wondering “what am I watching here?”. Was invested in where it was going but it left me with a pretty typical “depression/suicide” theme.
Seemingly fun to watch, but it might as well be a youtube vlog. A bit like this without any message, some random scenes from youth I guess? Nothing is contributed by this video
PL
Niby fajnie się to ogląda, ale równie dobrze mógłby to być vlog na youtubie. Trochę takie bez żadnego przekazu, jakieś losowe sceny z młodości chyba? Nic nie wnosi ten film. Zbyt głęboko polecieli
VIP5I can absolutely see this film going over the heads of people who don't struggle with mental health or the constant feeling of failing as a parent.
Heart breaking and devastating in such a beautiful way makes this film very special
I kept expecting the movie to build toward a final, impactful moment, but instead, it focused mainly on the vacation itself, with only hints sprinkled throughout about a larger theme. For me, having that climactic moment would have made the film more memorable and emotionally important, rather than leaving the audience to piece together what happened after the fact. While I can make assumptions about what exactly took place after the movie ended, the focus on the vacation created an experience where I could either enjoy the surface-level moments, with little regard to the more emotional scenes, or wait for something significant to happen, but it never quite does. It's still a great watch, I just think it could have been more than great.
I first rated this 8/10, I really enjoyed it and it had me in tears at the finish.
I've been haunted by the closing 10 minutes of this film though, and it's forced me to come back to it several times. I just can't shake it, the storytelling throughout builds to a crescendo that is one of the most powerful pieces of film making I've experienced.
Any story that can have this level of emotional impact beyond its playtime is magical, hence my 10/10.
Very, very strong 7 and a possible 8 given rewatches. Let it be known that I did not hate this film, I just think it mumbles its emotional message and hey, that works in the film's context but it doesn't make for smooth story-telling. Feels award-baity, y'know?
I did love the authenticity produced by Mescal and Corio's father-daughter dynamic. I don't think I've felt as enveloped in a relationship since Maudie (2016)... well, maybe this year's first-time viewing of Before Sunrise but it's all Ethan Hawke right?
I'm also vividly reminded of my own prepubescent family holidays. It's rare a film captures the tiny aspects and transient nature of a childhood holiday.
This is definitely worth the watch, despite my small grievances.
This movie, is a window thath life shows to me, to find help, but, also shows me a see to the future, It hurts. Hurt, but as a drug, that kind that makes you fell dizzy and lost, but that makes you feel, that is what are you looking for. To feel.
I watched this mainly because I was a huge fan of Paul Mescal in Normal People (2020). Both he and his co-star from that series, Daisy Edgar-Jones, have been on a tear recently, with her being in a slew of mainstream films and shows (Where the Crawdads Sing, Fresh, Under the Banner of Heaven), and him being cast to star in Ridley Scott's much belated Gladiator sequel. From what I've seen, they both deserve it. Mescal's performance in this film was once again brilliant. Unfortunately, that performance was in support of a story that didn't quite do it for me, mainly because there wasn't much story at all. This is a slice of life where the slice is a bit too thin. We get all of these wonderfully acted snippets and moments, but not enough progression for my liking. On top of that, the film drapes everything we see in an opaque cloud of the abstract/surreal. It's very intentional, and I'm confident the creators were trying to invoke specific ideas/feelings. This makes it all the more frustrating when I'm struggling to decipher what I'm watching and only coming up with vague guesses at what it all means.
It builds a narrative and visual language that is impressive in the creation of images that have an emotional background in which the affection between father and daughter sustains a good part of the story. The use of reflections and objects that stand in front of the image of the characters, that delimit and break it, is particularly significant in those idyllic vacations that have a melancholic background. And the point of view from the fragmentation, when we really discover where it comes from, is one of the most fascinating narrative devices that have been seen this year.
What a great debut from Charlotte Wells. A heartbreaking story with an excellent Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio. Maybe I've already seen the best movie of this year. I wouldn't be surprised. Wow.
The best thing about this movie is the kid. It's very hard to get a natural performance out of a child actor. I just wish there was more meat to the story.
Bloody hell didn’t expect to cry for a whole 15 minutes after the movie
Slow pace of the film. Excessively long shots. I have not been able to understand the construction of the narrative, meaningless sequences in the middle of others. Boring dialogues. I think I have not been able to empathize with the background of the film. I have not been able to understand the film at all and the beauty that I was told was hidden behind it.
The best thing is the actress who plays Sophie and some transitions that I loved. Otherwise, a very, very bad taste in my mouth. I don't know if you need to see the film more than once to understand it. 6/10
Slow pace of the film. Excessively long shots. I have not been able to understand the construction of the narrative, meaningless sequences in the middle of others. Boring dialogues. I think I have not been able to empathize with the background of the film. I have not been able to understand the film at all and the beauty that I was told was hidden behind it.
The best thing is the actress who plays Sophie and some transitions that I loved. Otherwise, a very, very bad taste in my mouth. I don't know if you need to see the film more than once to understand it. 6/10
Watched this when it came out with two of my movie friends. None of us really liked it. We went into knowing that it was an artistic film, it was going to touch on mental health, and it featured Paul Mescal. I understand why other people liked this film a lot, but the three of us understood what was going on near the beginning and felt like the rest of the film was trying to be subtle in showing the viewer the difference between the recalled memories and the actual trip for the father. It was nostalgic and made me think of my own family trips when I was younger. I just think it wasn't as subtle as it thought it was and there's not much variety in the depth of the depiction of depression that makes it feel two dimensional. It's artistically fine but gets boring quick. Since then I've talked to another friend about the film, and he loved it but wasn't able to tell me what I missed or what I didn't get - because we watched the same film but maybe there's some internal connection needed to make it feel more profound than it was for me, which is fine.
This film becomes better every rewatch. Masterpiece.
Great performance but with how they went about it, it really should have beeb a short film. I feel like they wasted my time for at least 30mins.
My god, this sucked.
I mean I get what the movie was trying to do and the subtext, I just wish it wasn't such a horrible uneventful slog to watch and get through.
A touching and beautifully crafted narrative, told with genuine emotion and grace. It's truly exceptional.
The plot was simple: a little glimpse into a father-daughter vacation, probably the last time they saw each other, remembered nostalgically by the home videos they took and the rug purchased on the trip. Sweet moments where they showed each other love and care, but not perfectly. I appreciated the artistic component, especially the way the camera often used the reflection on screens or on water to show the story taking place. I had trouble picking up all the conversation, maybe because of the accent. I didn’t particularly enjoy the flashing black scenes. I guess that was showing us he died, but it felt unnecessary. And maybe the art went a little too far in leaving so many loose ends. I would have liked to know just a little bit more about what happened in the end. Or stick with the artsy thing, but make a short film instead as another reviewer suggested.
Bittersweet family drama that can easily alienate its audience for being slow and essentially plotless, but that at the same time manages to say a lot about its characters without excessively relying on explicit dialogue or artsy metaphors. The direction is subtle and inspired, yet always accessible. Some traits of the characters vividly reminded me of people I lost, and I thought their depiction felt mostly realistic, rarely resulting in cloying sentimentality.
On the other hand, the way family film footage was implemented felt a little disappointing. It’s only a few clips that add nothing, with the vast majority of the movie being shot traditionally. I expected the entire past to be shown as a family film with dreamy sequences in between to work as faded memories. If I didn’t know the premise, I would have probably perceived it as a regular coming-of-age drama like many others.
Aftersun is simple and minimalistic, both in production and in story. It intentionally leaves gaps for the viewer to fill in, and uniquely communicates much of its narrative through these gaps. Although thought-provoking, the film didn't reach me to the degree that it intended.
This film is a great example of a very minimalist storyline turning into something that produces a lot for the viewer to think about. We witness a daughter and her father going on a holiday together. Through the course of the movie we are directly told some things (the movie is set in the past, the father is divorced, etc) and we come to assume some other things. The movie using an interesting technique of "flashes" that allow the user to get a feel for what the main character (in present day) is thinking about as she tries to unpack the past.
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Like my parents' National Geographic subscription: I get it but it's not for me.
This is a wonderfully made and subtle film about a father-daughter relationship that I can totally understand why so many people would love.
Not my cup of tea even though it wasn't waste of time.Nothing really happens but it's a realistic movie with good perfomances and it has it's points. 6.3/10
Rated a Connor 5, normal 6.4
Review by JoJoConejoBlockedParent2022-10-14T20:28:11Z
Incredibly beautiful.
I feel like this is what by Sofia Coppola's "Somewhere" aspired to be.
I love the type of slowness depicted: not done out of virtuosism for its own sake, but leaning in on the small, apparently insignificant moments like smoking in a balcony or washing hands - it was done beautifully, in a very personal way that allows you to stay with the character for that second longer that allows you to really see him/her and what they're feeling. Or having that moment for you to fully experience your emotions as well.
So often a character is created through a sum of events and actions and words said, cut after cut - whilst you can learn so much from the silences! Such underrated empathic tool.
As much so as the camera focusing on the character itself (or some body parts: I loved Celine Sciamma's glance on hands in "Portrait of a Lady on fire" for example) as they're performing an action - focused, reading through them the emotions they're feeling rather than by showing the action itself. The bike videogame and the interview were brilliant instances.
The part I was astounded by, tho, was the mastery in showing how important a bond can be in making you pull out a better version of yourself you didn't even expect to be there: when Sophie says "happy birthday" on the bus, it's such a simple act and yet the pinnacle of many small ones that remind Calum of what's really life for.
As a personal note: never underestimate how you can affect loved ones, with a caring word of gesture or by simply being there
Such a movie needs a proper walk home after the cinema to let you thoroughly grasp the feelings it conveyed