Since the Cannes Film Festival concluded, one of the most talked about films has been Aftersun, the directorial debut of Charlotte Wells. After its premiere and winning the French Touch Jury Prize at the festival, the film has continued to be praised as not just the best film to come out of Cannes 2022 but one of the year’s best films. With that overwhelming praise, it was hard not to be excited about the film’s New York Film Festival screening.
Ninety-six minutes later, Charlotte Wells’ debut shattered me. Aftersun is a melancholic and compassionate look at the love between a father and daughter. A directorial debut that triumphs as one of the year’s most important cinematic experiences.
Aftersun follows Calum and his 11-year-old daughter Sophie as they vacation in Turkey. As the film commences, cinephiles are introduced to the duo with the effective use of home video footage recorded by Sophie on their getaway. From there, we see Sophie curious about the world and her surroundings while Calum is doing his best to be a good father while dealing with underlying depression. Throughout the film, we understand the surface-level relationship between father and daughter and the complexity the two share.
Wells’ masterful screenplay and direction are on full display from the start as Wells’ attention to detail engrosses you in the film’s tone and the importance this vacation will have on Calum and Sophies lives in the future. Using the imagery of a rave, we are soon made aware that adult Sophie is attempting to come to an understanding of the duality of the man she calls her father.
Bringing to life Wells’ screenplay are the phenomenal performances by Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio. While Mescal’s take may be viewed as quiet and subtle, I found it quite demanding and effective. Mescal beautifully captures the balancing act of father and individual fighting his inner demons. His chemistry with Corio is undeniable and powerful, which makes the father-daughter dynamic relatively easy to become invested in.
Frankie Corio is a diamond in the rough and the discovery of the year. In her debut performance, Corio is inquisitive, charming, and remarkable. While incorporating youthful naivety, Corio offers maturity to her performance, especially in the film’s quiet and somber moments. Evoking such emotion with a glance at her father, Corio incapacitates both love and concern for her father. It’s easily one of the best youth performances of the year.
Wells’ use of the era should also be commended. Taking place in the late 90s, music plays a key role aiding the film’s rich themes. Always pointing to crucial song lyrics adds to the film’s underlying message. While it was delightful to hear the “Macarena” and “Chumbawumba”, the use of “Under Pressure” and Wells’ pointing to “This is our last dance” means a realization that this vacation, this moment, this dance between father and daughter could be the last.
Aftersun will leave a mark on any cinephile that dives in. It’s a meditative experience that impacts not just parents but soon-to-be parents like myself. Moreover, it’s a cinematic viewing that will stick with me for quite some time.
