Aftersun

"Sometimes at playtime, I look up at the sky and if I can see the Sun then... I think that the fact that we can both see the Sun, so even though we're not actually in the same place and we're not actually together... we kind of are in a way, you know?" First off, ouch. The way this film examines mental health is not only unique but also interesting in its approach. It has been 30 minutes since the credits rolled, and the film is just continuously replaying in my mind. The "show, don't tell" rule is obviously huge in writing, and this film not only keeps that in mind but anchors it in the forefront of the writing philosophy. What is eventually shown to the viewer is so beautifully subtle yet unbelievably dark, and the ending sequence captures it nicely. The project evoked an eerie feeling at times, as if to say "What's going to happen?" but it was always happening, and the film is jingling keys in front of you to keep your mind elsewhere. All things said and done, Aftersun is a tremendous demonstration of what modern arthouse filmmaking can look like, and a testament to A24's tight grip on original artistic film. would've liked to go more in depth on themes, but I try to keep these spoiler-free 🤕 (4.5/5) “Losing my Religion” as performed by an 11-year-old at a resort