Summary
InAftersun,the age gap between Calum and Sophie is a significant feature of their father-daughter relationship. Directed by Charlotte Wells in her feature debut, the movie follows the childhood memory of Sophie (Frankie Corio) on holiday with her single father, Calum (Paul Mescal), at a Turkish resort. Recently separated from his wife, Calum is using this vacation as an opportunity to bond with his daughter.He is a young father without much experience or maturity, but he is clearly trying his best. Mescal’s performance earned him a nomination forBest Actor at the 2023 Oscars.
Aftersunis a powerful moviethat explores heavy themes like depression, love, and guilt, all through the lens of a young girl’s memory. With a whopping 96% Rotten Tomatoes score, the movie has received immense critical acclaim for its sensitive, restrained storytelling and nuanced performances.It imbues a sense of melancholy underneath the seemingly mundane features of a vacation, with hints that young Sophie is largely oblivious to, but most viewers will pick up on. A central aspect of their dynamic is how much older Calum is than Sophie, which profoundly affects the nature of their relationship.
10 Best Vacation Movies To Watch Like Aftersun
Charlotte Wells' Aftersun shares similarities with other emotional vacation movies, including Call Me By Your Name and The Lost Daughter.
Calum Is Only 19 Years Older Than His Daughter Sophie In Aftersun
In The Movie, He Is Just 30, While She’s 11
InAftersun,Calum is only 19 years older than his daughter, Sophie. This means he had her when he was still a teenager, and, in the events of the movie, he is only 30, while she’s 11. This dynamic renders him a young, inexperienced father who doesn’t have the maturity or skills for the role yet.He feels quite lost and confused as a father, though he clearly loves his daughter deeply and wants to connect with her. The small age gap also gives Calum and Sophie a friendly relationship, as they enjoy themselves through whimsical activities on vacation.
Why Calum & Sophie’s Ages Are So Important In Aftersun
She’s Currently The Same Age As He Was During Their Trip Together
Calum and Sophie’s ages are extremely important inAftersun,not just because of his lack of experience and maturity as a father. The film follows 30-year-old Sophie reflecting on the vacation with her father, becauseshe’s currently the same age that Calum was at the time. TheAftersunending suggests that Calumdied by suicide following the trip: he is clearly depressed and struggling with his mental health. In one scene, he admits his surprise at making it to 30 and expresses a lack of belief that he will make it to 40.
The movie is thus a rendition of her memories, visualized through home videos of the trip that she’s watching in the present day.
Despite being on a vacation with his daughter, Calum experiences little joy, and seems indifferent and detached throughoutAftersun.However, the extent of this is obviously lost on young Sophie at the time. The movie is thus a rendition of her memories, visualized through home videos of the trip that she’s watching in the present day.She is presumably looking for answers to explain her father’s subsequent suicide, trying to see signs that she couldn’t when she was 11, hoping to finally understand him now that they’re the same age.
Aftersun
Cast
Aftersun is a 2022 drama directed by Charlotte Wells. The film follows a young girl named Sophie who reflects on a vacation she took with her father, Calum, twenty years earlier. Through a series of memories, Sophie attempts to reconcile the loving father she knew with the unresolved aspects of their relationship. Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio star in this introspective exploration of memory and familial connection.
