It was up against some serious competition but Charlotte Wells’ extraordinary debut edged it to top spot and has been crowned our film of the year. Flashing back to the 1990s, we join eleven-year-old Sophie (Frankie Corio) who is about to embark on a holiday in Turkey with her father Calum (Paul Mescal), who is separated, albeit amicably, from her mother. Armed with a mini-DV camcorder, they record their experiences together, from hours in the arcades, meeting fellow teenagers and sharing their experiences, to the quieter moments where they share their different lives. Aftersun is a quiet, contemplative, funny, and utterly moving tale of parenthood with some cracking 90s tunes for good measure.
Director
Scottish filmmaker Charlotte Wells, currently based in New York, is a distinguished graduate of the MBA/MFA dual-degree program at NYU. Throughout her academic journey, she demonstrated her multifaceted talent by writing and directing three compelling short films, while also contributing to the production of numerous others. In 2020, Wells earned the esteemed title of Fellow at the Sundance Institute Screenwriters and Directors Labs, showcasing her promising potential. Her directorial debut, Aftersun, emerged as a standout, premiering at the prestigious Semaine de la Critique at Cannes in 2022. Wells’ trajectory in the film industry reflects a fusion of creative prowess, academic achievement, and recognition on an international stage.
This film is like an iceberg. So much is left unsaid. Then – perhaps – we realise that the film is told from the POV of the memory of Sophie. So she would not know the why of her father’s actions. She would just be left with these pictures of him. It is we who realise, we who put it together, we who join her at teh end of the film shouting at his to stop, come home, your daughter loves and needs you. It’s devastating.
1 Comment
This film is like an iceberg. So much is left unsaid. Then – perhaps – we realise that the film is told from the POV of the memory of Sophie. So she would not know the why of her father’s actions. She would just be left with these pictures of him. It is we who realise, we who put it together, we who join her at teh end of the film shouting at his to stop, come home, your daughter loves and needs you. It’s devastating.