Aftersun - Review

Review: 4 out of 5

CHARLOTTE Wells' Aftersun is a quietly devastating and highly intelligent examination of love, loss, father-daughter relationships and mental health.

Informed by Wells' own experience of all of that - she lost her own father at the age of 16 - this is a haunting and poignant experience that handles potentially difficult subject matter in an extremely sensitive manner.

The story follows 11-year-old Sophie (screen newcomer Frankie Corio, in a sensational debut) as she enjoys what turns out to be her last holiday with her young separated father Calum (Paul Mescal). The two clearly have a beautiful bond, as they enjoy each other's company, and indulge in everything from playing pool with fellow hotel dwellers to scuba diving and dining out.

But there's a sense of melancholy surrounding Calum, a sadness to him that brings a sense of foreboding - especially since the holiday in question is being recalled by an older Sophie, years later.

Wells' film is intercut with video footage of the getaway that was captured by Sophie, which sometimes blurs the lines between what is real and how it has been remembered.

It is also deliberately paced - with certain moments feeling deliberately staged and occasionally even unnecessary (particularly early on) - although they quietly build a tension that eventually helps afford the film its emotional power.

And while there are certainly a lot of serious themes at play, Aftersun isn't so sombre that it doesn't bring a bittersweet cheer. The relationship between Mescal and Corio is beautifully played and feels very real, while Corio's own coming-of-age journey during her trip invites some common genre tropes (a first kiss scenario, father-daughter bonding, etc). There is warmth to be found and smiles to be enjoyed.

But these only lend the film extra emotional heft when it opts to explore its other themes, with Mescal infusing his character with a keen sense of love and despair. His eyes hint at a deeper sorrow that Wells never feels she has to fully explain - we can arrive at our own conclusions as to what could be driving it, which taps into the complexity at the heart of mental illness. There are no easy explanations or answers.

Some cleverly chosen song inclusions also add to the sense of nostalgia and sorrow, with Queen and David Bowie's Under Pressure unlikely ever to be heard in the same way again.

Aftersun is a hugely impressive feature debut from Wells - a relatively small film with big things to say. In an era when the health of the nation and mental health remain so central to social and political thinking, it has a relevance and insight that makes it damn near essential.