Aftersun

This was probably the highest profile of the three films I chose to start the month with. At least, until the next one I'll get to factored in. Right now, we're looking at Aftersun, which sees the feature length debut of short filmmaker Charlotte Wells. She's the likeliest to win the DGA for First Time Director, though only star Paul Mescal was nominated for an Oscar. Let's see why.

In 1996, Sophie (Frankie Corio) and her dad, Calum (Mescal), vacation in Turkey. They spend the summer at the arcade, at the beach, on the pool and having ice cream, among other things. Sophie's DV camera captures a lot of the fun under the sun. But Calum isn't that happy. He and Sophie's mother separated, and he has money troubles. He still tries to put on a happy face.

We see flashes of Calum at a rave throughout the film. There's someone who wants to reach him. Only later do we learn that someone is the older Sophie (Celia Rowlson-Hall). That vacation was their last together. Sophie tries to make sense of her dad now that she has her own baby. We only learn all of that at the end. What about the rest of the film?

The main draw is Calum and Sophie's relationship. He's so young that strangers mistake him for Sophie's brother. She's aware, though not fully, of Calum's adult issues. Their father/daughter relationship feels real. It's fun to see them enjoy the sights around their resort. They have only a few problems throughout the film's 101 minutes. Sophie accidentally loses an expensive scuba mask; Calum later turns her down for a father/daughter karaoke; he later accidentally locks her out of the hotel room. He apologizes for locking her out and they have a climactic dance to Under Pressure. The film's only real conflict is so subtly psychological that a second viewing is needed.

Mescal as Calum is a warm presence. He tries his best to be the world's best dad for Sophie. He's mostly successful as the trip proves. We see him breaking down in private near the end, shortly after Sophie gets onlookers to sing him Happy Birthday. He tells a minor character he can't see himself at 40; it wouldn't surprise us if nobody did. The film's creepiest moment is when he walks into the ocean at the dead of night for a swim. Gregory Oke leaves the camera running well after he vanishes. No, this isn't where he dies. What happened to him is unexplained.

Corio as Sophie is quite likable in her film debut. The film's in-media res opening has her record a silly conversation with Calum. It's a mix of childish innocence with precociousness. All of their scenes together have such excellent chemistry. You'll have fun as she takes in the sights around the resort. She hangs with older kids, who try to shield her from their fun. Her age-appropriate fun helps invoke nostalgia for the time period. She has a nice subplot where she bonds with Michael (Brooklyn Toulson), a lad she meets at the arcade. Michael is fine, though him suddenly sneaking up behind her at night isn't the wisest move. It's quite bittersweet to see them part for the last time.

Aftersun barely got a theatrical release this past fall. But it's ready to rent on your favorite streaming services. Once again, I went to Amazon Prime. See it soon to see one of this year's most gentle Oscar contenders. It's a slow film, but its father and daughter relationship will draw you in. It's easy to see why this little film made it into the big leagues. Next time, a little film with big headlines. Don't miss it. Both Aftersun and the next review.