Aftersun is a 2022 film directed by Charlotte Wells. Starring Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio, the film has been praised for its realistic, heartbreaking portrayal of depression. The film follows Sophie (Corio), an 11-year-old girl who goes on vacation to Turkey with her father, Calum (Mescal), on the eve of his 31st birthday. As Calum tries to keep Sophie happy, his hopelessness pushes through the cracks of his facade, leaking shadows onto his and his daughter’s trip. This battle is captured through the lens of a MiniDV camera, whose footage is interspersed throughout the film.

Calum’s subtle struggles with his mental health are present throughout the movie. A notable example comes when Sophie rounds up the other tourists at the resort to wish Calum a happy birthday by singing ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’. Calum seems apathetic; later, he’s seen crying in his hotel room. For people who are depressed, there is a prevailing feeling that they do not deserve happiness or praise, which can be seen through Calum’s reaction.

In another noteworthy scene, Calum refuses to sing ‘Losing My Religion’ with Sophie during a karaoke night. Despite her insistence, she ends up singing alone. Near the end of the song, Sophie mutters the lyric, “I think I thought I saw you try…” Sophie is young and she can only partially understand what Calum is going through. He hides his emotions from her, but it doesn’t mean that she isn’t affected by her father’s behaviour. It’s likely even more confusing for her that her father is acting this way without explanation. In his attempt to shield Sophie from his pain, he’s hurt her nonetheless. For those who are struggling with their mental health, open communication is beneficial. But it is ultimately one of the very things that they avoid, in order to not burden their loved ones.

The movie’s peak comes on the last night of Calum and Sophie’s holiday, where they dance to ‘Under Pressure’ together. Throughout this scene, we also see an adult Sophie in a rave setting with flashing strobe-lights (the rave symbolizes Sophie’s memories) as she tries to reach out to Calum, who is lost amongst the dense crowd. She is only able to reach him briefly, before he disappears and leaves her standing alone. Afterwards, post-vacation, the pair say farewell to each other at the airport. Calum then walks out a door leading to the rave, implying that he now exists only in Sophie’s memories.

Overall, Aftersun is an exploration of intergenerational trauma and mental health through memory. Calum’s struggles have now been passed down to Sophie, as she grapples with the grief surrounding her father’s decision to take his life. She deals with these emotions as she attempts to remember Calum through the lens of the video camera footage.

Calum tried his hardest to love Sophie through his depression. And it’s now up to Sophie to love her father’s memory throughout her own struggles.

Watch the trailer here.

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