Aftersun

UK Release Date: 18 November 2022

Certification: 12A
Director: Charlotte Wells
Cast: Frankie Corio, Paul Mescal

Rating: 100%

                                                                                                                                                   

Review:

Easily the best film to come out last year and on only my second watch, Aftersun is firmly within my top ten favourites of all time and easily A24's best. 

'Sophie reflects on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier. Memories real and imagined fill the gaps between miniDV footage as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn’t.'

Words don't do this film justice. I never want to watch Aftersun again and yet I could spend the rest of my life with this film - it hasn't left my mind since the first viewing. I hate the feeling that I have following the runtime but nonetheless it's utter perfection in my eyes. 

Aftersun is brilliant but it works due to the phenomenal lead performances. Largely known for playing a dysfunctional teen in hit British limited series, Normal People - Paul Mescal has since expanded on his success having been cast in Ridley Scott's Gladiator II. Although, up until this point, he hasn't delivered as complete of a performance as that of Calum. Mescal delivers a masterclass in the beauty of subtle acting receiving an incredibly deserving Oscar nomination. The most accurate depiction of a man silently battling depression that I've seen. Emotionless at points, clearly faking feelings simply to please his daughter at others and breaking down in moments of serene quiet. That's how mental health is seen in everyday life and it's refreshing to see such a raw and authentic display done correctly on the big screen. Mescal's chemistry with Frankie Corio is electric. The audience forgets that they're watching characters and instead views Calum and Sophie as real people. 12-year-old Scottish actress, Frankie Corio is scintillating in her debut as Calum's daughter, Sophie. An intelligent child whilst still innocent and naive, not fully aware of her father's mental struggles. Undoubtedly, a bright young talent with a huge future ahead of her. 

Charlotte Wells' direction comes across as a veteran filmmaker who's had twenty plus years to hone her craft which is why the impressive nature of her directorial debut is such a huge achievement. Wells delivers her magnum opus with her first feature. Inspired to make the film based on her own personal experiences, a holiday with her father in Turkey. She does all the technical aspects perfectly whilst creating a touching story.

The cinematography from Gregory Oke is stunning. It may come across as too arthouse for some with shots of reflections through a mirror, a juxtaposition of two characters separated only by a wall and a large portion of the film viewed through a cam-corder. But I adored the shot selection and colour palette on display. The whole film is breathtaking from a cinematography standpoint, still the display of tai chai stands out as one of the best scenes in recent memory. 

Oliver Coates' score is astonishingly crushing, creating an atmosphere of dread. 'One Without' punches the audience in the gut due to the poignant nature of the notes. 'Swimming pool - sky' is such a delicate piece of music. And the score's conclusion, 'Last Dance', is simply crushing. To me, it felt that the score was a vastly under appreciated element within Aftersun. 

There is nothing else like Aftersun, it truly needs to be experienced fully and it is best going into the film absolutely blind. The film leaves the audience completely empty both during the runtime and following its conclusion. A soul-destroying experience yet so tender. From minute one the audience notices a constant sense of unease and anxiety. Charlotte Wells leaves the audience with consistent warning. Aftersun was always going to end the way it did, in a devastating manner and the audience can do absolutely nothing about it. 

The film as a whole is both exceptional and heart-breaking but Aftersun requires a full viewing. The last five minutes ties the film together beautifully, answering most of the audience's questions whilst opening a few more doors. It ends with the audience in tears due to a spectacular rendition of Queen and David Bowie's 'Under Pressure'. It will never be listened to in the same way. 

I simply can't speak highly enough of Aftersun, I adore the film and I can't wait to see what Frankie Corio, Paul Mescal and Charlotte Wells get up to in the future.