Film Review — Aftersun
Newcomers shine in this sensational family drama.
A young woman reminisces about a childhood holiday shared with her loving but troubled father.
Believe the hype: Charlotte Wells’ affecting Aftersun is a family drama for a generation and a legitimate contender for the best film of the year.
Most decent filmmakers need a few features before unleashing anything near the level of confidence and audacity delivered here. Described as “emotionally autobiographical”, Wells throws us in at the “adult” end, probing and expertly capturing the excitement of adolescent emergence, contrasting sharply — and quite painfully — with the melancholy of adulthood. This is a seriously impressive first effort from the writer/director.
In front of the camera, Paul Mescal and newcomer Frankie Corio are exceptional, delivering masterfully subtle and layered performances where silent moments say far more than words ever could. Mescal has already proven himself as a real breakthrough talent in 2022, but Corio, making her acting debut, must surely also be destined for a distinguished career if this remarkable performance is anything to go by.
The emotional impact of Aftersun is comparable to being hit by a bus. It’s raw and intentionally ambiguous, allowing viewers to interpret based on their own feelings and life experiences. It tore me open in a way few films have, leaving me desperately vulnerable in its moments of beauty and despair. This is one trip I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
★★★★★
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