Quick Synopsis: A heartwarming slice-of-life drama about a father and his daughter on holiday in the ’90s.

Aftersun is beautiful. I need to say that first. Not because I’m going to spend this review slating this film and I need you to know that no matter what problems I have with this, I do still like it. No, I need to say that first because that’s my first thought if anybody asks me my opinion on it. In some ways it’s about nothing, it’s just a dad on holiday with his daughter. So if you’re going in and skim-watching (not paying attention, not thinking of subtext etc) it won’t be for you. But if you’re watching and paying attention to the unsaid moments, the worrying subtext of much of the dialogue and the behaviour (such as the father talking about depression, then writing a lot of letters to his daughter before breaking down and crying), it will break you. But it won’t break you in an “I am now despondent and hate everything” way, but in a way that whilst sad, carries a sense of beauty. Like being at a funeral for a dear friend.

As I said, in some ways, Aftersun is a film where nothing happens. So it makes it hard to talk about and explain. So I’ll try to do it by talking about how it reminded me of a mix of The Florida Project and Lady Bird. There’s a real sense of nostalgia in this. I was instantly transported to the Spanish holidays I took with my family in the 90s. That feeling of being far too hot, spending all your time by the pool, playing video games/pool with strangers, and latching onto strangers who you have nothing in common with except the fact you’re both English. “Wow, you’re from Liverpool? I’m only from a place about 7 hours away, we’re basically neighbours!”. This sense of nostalgia is helped by the moments which are shot like a home movie (well, not “home” but you get what I mean). The video quality and lack of stability to the shots instantly remind you of when everybody’s dad would record their holidays, talking over them, and getting video footage that you’ll never ever watch again unless something interesting happens. It’s not nostalgia in the sense of “those were the fun times”, but there is definitely a sense of longing, a sense of yearning for those memories to be clearer so you can emotionally wrap yourself in them and use them for warmth.

Aftersun would not have worked if the relationship between the two leads felt fake. It’s difficult for two adults to fake a familial relationship, let alone an adult and a child actor. Yet you never doubt the sincerity between the two. They genuinely feel like father and daughter, which is a testament to the talent of both Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio, as well as whoever made the decision that the two of them should spend time at a holiday resort in Turkey during rehearsals.

It’s not a perfect film, though. But my issues with it are mainly ones of different personal preferences than outright “nope, that was stupid and wrong”. I’d have preferred some of the shots to linger a little bit more so that the audience could take in the emotion of what was happening. I’d have also liked to have seen a bit more of the current Sophie, her moments are too fleeting so the adult version of her doesn’t feel as developed or full as she could, which means the younger version is lacking something too.

So, overall a very good watch, but not one that’s for everybody.