A daughter fondly recalls her father in the sincere, emotionally resonant "Aftersun," a hypnotic drama that quietly places viewers under its spell.
Writer and director Charlotte Wells' promising debut feature plays with memory as a tool and lets its story unfold in dreamlike waves. It never overwhelms viewers but gives them plenty to grab hold of, telling a personal story that hits on universal themes of love, loss and connection.
It's built entirely around two immersive, impressive lead performances. Sophie (Frankie Corio, wonderfully naturalistic) is an 11-year-old vacationing with her father Calum ("Normal People's" Paul Mescal) on the beach in Turkey. It's the late '90s, which we glean from the tech of the era and the pop songs (All Saints, Blur) in the background.
