Aftersun

Aftersun is, simply put, one of the best films I have watched in a long time, and unlike anything I’ve ever seen in cinema. The meaning of this film lies in its implications; director Charlotte Wells gives us pieces of the puzzle, and it’s up to us to complete the picture. During the film, I was a bit lost on its message. I sat in silence for a while following this watch trying to fill in the blanks, and it was then that I began to realize the heartbreaking beauty of Aftersun. A truly masterful depiction of trauma and grief. Paul Mescal deserves the world and more for this performance. He brought such genuine love and care to Calum, and his chemistry with Frankie Corio’s Sophie was beautiful. My pick for Best Actor was Banshees’ Colin Farrell, but Mescal makes a strong bid for that spot with this role. It would be criminal if I did not mention this film’s ending. I can’t think of another film that wraps up its narrative in such an emotional, raw manner. Wells manages to provide us with the final necessary pieces of her beautiful puzzle, and in the silence of the last few scenes, the entire story comes to life. Hats off to Wells for the brilliant execution throughout. Aftersun deserves all of the love it has received and more, because it’s real. Authentic feelings of grief and loss are hard to truly evoke or translate through film, but this movie has done that in a way that will stick with me for a long time. An outstanding achievement by all means.