Aftersun

This film captures childhood memories with the perfect touch of nostalgia, naivety, and bitter sweetness while also providing a great example of what a struggling parent looks like. The grief isn’t told or even shown, it’s projected through the lens of a grown up Sophie realising she’s struggling with the same problems her father did. As a person who has battled depression and has a little brother Paul Mescal did a beautiful job at what “hiding” it from kids looks like. You create a world any child will be content with and happy in while your own world is crumbling. And the loss and regret that comes with realising things too late haunts the movie after the halfway point in a very daunting but real way.  I also think this movie requires a second watch as you can appreciate the details more. The way he walks in front of the cars without looking, the carpet, the dialogue that seems mundane but carries a heavy burden. Its lack of plot can be frustrating on a first watch but the point of the movie is the fact that there really isn’t a plot and it’s not always needed to showcase who a character is. The final scene really ties it all together and I now can’t listen to Under Pressure the same way again. Loved this and it deserved more award recognition for sure!