Rating of
3/4
"I think it's nice that we share the same sky."
Matthew Brady - wrote on 11/07/23
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 I left it for a bit, like I do because movies should be timeless and open for discussion at any time and not seen as outdated or late.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.
