Aftersun is a quietly devastating memory film written and directed by Charlotte Wells. On the surface, it follows a young father and his 11-year-old daughter on a summer holiday in Turkey. Underneath, it is about memory, depression, love, and the way children only understand their parents years later. The film unfolds like a recollection you’re not sure you’re remembering correctly.
Starring Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio, this is less a plot-driven story and more an emotional archaeology of a relationship.
Detailed Summary
The Camcorder Memories
The film is framed through old camcorder footage recorded by Sophie during a vacation with her father, Calum, at a Turkish resort in the late 1990s. These grainy tapes are intercut with present-day flashes of adult Sophie watching, remembering, and trying to understand something she couldn’t grasp as a child.
Right away, we sense a mismatch between what Sophie saw then and what she understands now.
A Normal Holiday with Subtle Cracks
Calum and Sophie swim, play pool, go diving, sing karaoke, and explore the resort. On the surface, it’s an ordinary father-daughter holiday filled with warmth and tenderness. Calum is playful, gentle, and clearly adores Sophie.
But small details begin to feel off.
Calum can’t afford certain things. He lies about his age. He seems tired in a way that isn’t physical. He practices tai chi alone at night. He stares into nothing. He disappears briefly. He buys a rug he can’t carry home. He spits at his own reflection in the mirror.
None of this is explained. And that’s the point.
Sophie Growing Up, Calum Falling Apart
Sophie begins spending time with older teenagers at the resort, entering early adolescence. Meanwhile, Calum becomes more distant. We notice he’s sleeping poorly. He watches Sophie from afar with a look that is almost like gracing himself for losing her.
A crucial scene occurs when Sophie asks him about his 11th birthday. Calum says he doesn’t remember it. That emotional blankness is not accidental.
The Confession by the Sea
One of the most important moments comes at night on the beach. Calum opens up slightly, telling Sophie that sometimes he feels like he’s failing her. He talks vaguely about not feeling good enough, about life not going the way he expected.
He never directly says he is depressed. But as adults, we recognize it immediately.
Sophie, being a child, doesn’t.
The Dance Floor — Memory vs Reality
Throughout the film, we return to surreal flashes of a dark rave-like space where adult Sophie sees Calum dancing under strobe lights. She tries to reach him, but she never can. These scenes are not literal; they are memory trying to access something lost.
Movie Ending
The ending is one of the most quietly heartbreaking conclusions in recent cinema.
On the last day of the holiday, Sophie and Calum pack to leave. There is no dramatic confrontation. No confession. No explosion. Just a heavy emotional stillness.
At the airport, Sophie walks through the gate while Calum watches. He smiles, waves, and stays behind.
Then the film cuts to the camcorder footage ending. We see Calum walking into darkness through a doorway, the tape running out.
This is the last time Sophie ever saw her father.
The film never states what happened to Calum, but the implication is overwhelming: Calum likely took his own life shortly after this trip.
All the strange behaviors throughout the film — the emotional detachment, the self-loathing, the exhaustion, the feeling of saying goodbye without saying it — now fall into place.
The rave sequences intercut with this ending show adult Sophie trying to reach a father she never fully understood while he was alive. She dances, reaches for him, but he disappears into the crowd and light.
The final image is devastating because it’s not loud. It’s quiet acceptance. Adult Sophie finally understanding what child Sophie could not.
This was a goodbye trip. Calum knew. Sophie didn’t.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No. There are no post-credits scenes.
Type of Movie
Aftersun is an intimate psychological drama and memory piece that explores depression, parenthood, and the unreliability of childhood recollection through a deeply personal lens.
Cast
- Paul Mescal as Calum
- Frankie Corio as Sophie
- Celia Rowlson-Hall as Adult Sophie
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Oliver Coates, using minimalist, ambient cello textures that mirror the film’s emotional restraint.
The most unforgettable musical moment comes with Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie during the dance sequence, turning the song into an emotional release rather than a nostalgic hit.
Filming Locations
- Ölüdeniz/Fethiye
These real Turkish resort locations are essential to the film’s realism. The slightly faded, modest holiday setting reinforces the feeling of an ordinary memory rather than a cinematic one.
Awards and Nominations
- Academy Award nomination for Paul Mescal (Best Actor)
- BAFTA nominations including Outstanding British Film
- Cannes Film Festival (Critics’ Week) premiere and critical acclaim
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Charlotte Wells drew heavily from her own childhood memories.
- Frankie Corio had never acted before this film.
- Much of the dialogue between Mescal and Corio was improvised.
- The camcorder footage was shot on real miniDV cameras to preserve authenticity.
Inspirations and References
The film is semi-autobiographical, inspired by Wells’ own memories of her father. It also echoes the emotional style of filmmakers like Richard Linklater and Andrea Arnold.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
No alternate ending has been released. Wells has stated that the ambiguity was always intentional. Some quieter bonding scenes were trimmed to preserve pacing and emotional subtlety.
Book Adaptations and Differences
The film is not based on a book.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Calum doing tai chi alone at night
- The rug shop conversation
- The beach talk about failure
- The final airport goodbye
- The Under Pressure dance sequence
Iconic Quotes
- Calum: “I thought I was such a good person.”
- Sophie: “When you were eleven, what did you think you’d be doing now?”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- Calum’s age (31) mirrors Charlotte Wells’ father’s age during a similar trip.
- The broken camcorder batteries symbolize fragmented memory.
- Mirrors appear repeatedly when Calum is at his lowest emotional points.
- The rug represents something beautiful he cannot carry into his future.
Trivia
- Shot in just a few weeks on a modest budget.
- Paul Mescal has said this was the most emotionally difficult role of his career.
- Many viewers only fully grasp the ending after reflecting on the film later.
Why Watch?
Because Aftersun is one of those rare films that changes after you finish it. What seems gentle becomes tragic. What seems ordinary becomes a farewell letter.
You don’t watch it. You realize it.
Director’s Other Works
- Blue Christmas (2017) – short
- Laps (2017) – short
Recommended Films for Fans
- Before Sunset (2004)
- Manchester by the Sea (2016)
- Fish Tank (2009)
- Call Me by Your Name (2017)
