Aftersun: Depression and An Emotional Performance by Paul Mescal: This Unmissable Film Arrived on Netflix

With Aftersun, a directorial debut that is delicate in its staging but explosive in its introspection, Charlotte Wells adds a noteworthy piece to the A24 productions. Presented at Alice in the City, after its passage to the 2022 Cannes Film Festival in a parallel section, as well as other independent festivals, Wells’s film restores the complexity of the father-daughter relationship, entrusting its investigation to the spectator function: between actual memories and voluntary manipulations, Paul Mescal and newcomer Frankie Corio guide us in search of something we would like to know but whose elusiveness we recognize. At the end of Aftersun, the adult Sophie points the camera at the screen. A television on which images of when she was a child pass, of when that summer she spent with her father she began to take a look at teenagers and to try to understand what life was like for adults.

Sad movies exist in abundance but feature films that truly leave their mark on the audience with their powerful story are few. That is the case with Aftersun, the acclaimed drama starring Paul Mescal and directed by Charlotte Wells, which managed to become one of the most outstanding films of 2022 according to critics and the public. Originally available on the MUBI streaming platform, it is now also in the Netflix catalog, expanding its access for those who have not yet had the opportunity to see it. It is a story where the main axes are fatherhood and depression, themes that within the film do not leave even the coldest viewer indifferent.

Aftersun: A Sensitive Story About Fatherhood

The film captures the complex relationship between a young father, Calum (Mescal), and his 11-year-old daughter, Sophie (Frankie Corio), who vacations at a resort in Turkey. Through the eyes of Sophie, who records her experiences with a MiniDV camera, the story delves into the family dynamics and emotional challenges they face. While Sophie tries to understand and connect with her father, Calum deals with a depression hidden under an apparent happiness that he creates in order not to appear bad to his daughter.

Directed by Charlotte Wells in her film debut, Aftersun received praise from both audiences and critics, standing out for Wells’ intimate and sensitive direction, quite successful cinematography, and, above all, the outstanding performances of its protagonists. Additionally, the film features reflections on coming of age from Sophie (Celia Rowlson-Hall), who reviews footage of her vacation to reconcile her childhood view of her father with her current life. In this way, the film is not only a story about fatherhood and the passage from childhood to maturity, but also a testimony to the transformative power of memories and how they shape our identity and perceptions.

Success for Critics and Audiences

In the cinematographic field, the film has been recognized at various festivals, including its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022, where Wells was nominated for the Caméra d’Or. The film also garnered recognition at the BAFTAs, where Wells won for outstanding debut, and Mescal’s nomination for Best Actor at the Oscars. In addition to its success at awards, the feature film was also celebrated by critics on the most important film portals: Metacritic (96%), Rotten Tomatoes (96%), and IMDb (7.6/10), where the direction is applauded, the photography and again the interpretations of Corio and Mescal.

In some interviews, Wells shared his vision behind Aftersun, calling his relationship with the film “emotionally autobiographical.” As impressive as this may be to some, Wells emphasizes that the narrative is completely fictional, although she clarifies that it is inspired by personal memories and emotions that have remained with her to this day in her memory. Likewise, this production also meant an important step for Paul Mescal, who became the object of attention for his brilliant performance. This led him to get involved in other large-scale projects such as Gladiator 2, by director Ridley Scott, and the film All of Us Strangers, a film in which he co-starred with Andrew Scott. Aftersun is now available in the Netflix catalog from February 24. Also, it can be enjoyed from MUBI, the streaming platform to which it arrived first.