Aftersun (2022)
Warm, nostalgic melancholy.
Presentation:
Afternsun is an indie debut film from the director Charlotte Wells, allowing for deeply personal sensibilities which would otherwise not be seen from more experienced directors. It’s hard not to draw comparisons with Lynne Ramsey’s Ratcatcher, also a masterpiece directorial debut, however Aftersun falls short. It’s beautifully shot with long takes and slow pans, providing an intimate yet observational perspective that makes this father daughter duo seem like the only people existing in a nostalgic moment. The composition and edits are so thoughtful that the cinematography alone propels this film into art house status. The film starts extremely slowly with little to no story for the first 30 minutes until you realize that it’s not about the plot, but rather the feeling that the film attempts to portray. Although I found it difficult to relate, I think many people will share some of the beautifully fleeting moments like the one-on-one moments and memories of childhood vacations. As for feel, the movie incredibly executes the reminiscing of the past especially with the tall format, long lenses and filmic nostalgia with the CRTs and camcorders of the 1990s.
Analysis:
The film is a coming of age tale so personal it can only have been the director’s lived experience. Whether the director’s life is engaging enough for you to connect with is another story. As a result, there are some elements of her life that are sprinkled in such as her lesbian development that don't have a lot of support, which are understandably important but serve little connection to the main themes and relationship with her father. The film is tastefully subtle, and appreciatedly so with only 3 scenes that reveal the meaning behind the film. The father has what can only be interpreted as suicidal and depressive tendencies revealed when he states it was already a miracle he lived past 30. He then cries alone with no context, only possibly explained by depression. At the end of the film, the long white hallway can only be symbolized as his death, which is a common motif when depicting the transition to the afterlife in cinema. The film is ultimately a memory. What we are watching is the same memory the adult Sophie is watching on the VHS. She is also notably half smiling, which suggests a fond memory in contrast with the frustration with her dancing father under strobe lights. Though there are some unexplained conflicts, perhaps things she had wished to say or done, the director invites us all to look back fondly despite the imperfections.
Conclusion:
Although I didn’t relate to the characters, there is a warm melancholy that is so adeptly captured in this film that leaves a lasting impression. At 100 minutes, the film feels longer than it should especially since there is very little story to keep you engaged aside from the emotions. I suppose that is acceptable for a coming of age tale, but without any drama, conflict or story arc for half the film, it leaves too much time for you to wonder what the film is about before you can start to appreciate it. It’s quite unique in what you feel at the end. It’s not exactly bittersweet, it’s tender yet also sorrowful, and that reason alone makes it memorable. If you like this film, you should absolutely watch Ratcatcher, which I think is a better film in nearly every way. But what it does have going for it, Aftersun is likely the most nostalgic vacation of our generation.
Recommendations
Every frame a painting.