Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: AFTERSUN [Cannes Film Festival 2022]
The texture of social relevance, perception and by extension mental illness can have an interesting reflection if told from the right perspective. With "Aftersun" [International Critics Week], the film is an interesting diatribe on lost memories, understanding, problematic reactions and a simple vacation between a parent and his child. Frankie Corio plays Sophie with a knowing and altruism reminiscent of a young Natalie Portman. Paul Mescal plays her father Callum who takes her on a trip to Turkey to spend time. Much of the details of the family and its relationship are kept at arms length and yet they are bubbling at the surface. Callum is a doting dad but distracted, almost and literally in a haunted way. It seems that Sophie is just one part of his life that is keeping it together. A lot of the reminiscences start with a reflection of DV footage which builds the film looking backwards. Callum tries to put on a front but when the idea of who he is switches off there is a darkness. Sophie asks him where he thought he would be at 30 when he was 11. The movie speaks to perhaps a misstep when Callum was a teenager and yet he has a jewel of a daughter in Sophie. He appreciates it but he can't seem to combat the depression that seems to overtake him. The film moves the action in certain directions where the aspect of losing Callum seems to be a foregone conclusion and yet he always returns.
Sophie is a kid having to act like the adult and yet the two of them have an easy relationship, no drama save for small inconveniences. Sophie also displays a world weariness where she becomes the adult and yet her yearning for the more intense emotions in this way backfires on her a bit. That said her empathy for her father continues without measure despite his need to disconnect. Director Charlotte Wells adds a light but also dread filled touch where the life is just teetering on the edge while still being in a normal setting. The metaphor of lush surroundings begetting a darkness is inevitable especially when you see Mescal disappearing into the dark night of surf at one point. Despite the fact that a flash forward begets a nature of eventuality with Sophie, it would have been nice to see a texture of remembrance or guilt to really bring the point home. That said, "Aftersun" is a tender look at a doomed relationship where all the details are not give. The audience must draw their own conclusions but that is part of the point. "Aftersun" knows its characters but wants you to feel with them despite their flaws and not judge what they ultimately become per se. B+
By TIm Wassberg
