Currently in theaters, Aftersun is one of the best surprises 2022 has to offer. A mesmerizing debut by Charlotte Wells and featuring heartwarming performances by Paul Mescal and the young Frankie Corio, the movie mixes past and present in memories both real and imagined as Sophie, now an adult, reflects on the holiday she took with her father when she was a kid, in an attempt to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn't.
Emotionally charged and devastating at times, Aftersun offers plenty of insightful quotes that will make viewers reflect on life and the relationships that move us.
"When You Were 11, What Did You Think You Would Be Doing Now?"
Sophie
The movie opens with a sweet and sincere dialogue between Sophie and Calum. Seemingly innocent words gradually have a massive impact on Calum, especially when his daughter asks him what did he think he would be doing at his age back when he was 11.
His face turns cold and the scene cuts, only to return later on in the film and reveal Sophie's question is actually a pivotal moment of the trip; a moment that hit Calum really hard as he looks back at the choices he's made in the past. It all comes down to how the responsibility of being a young father truly breaks him.
"I Think It's Nice That We Share The Same Sky."
Sophie
Aftersun can truly feel like a sensorial movie at times, and this scene is the best example. While resting at the poolside with her dad, Sophie unassumingly talks about how wonderful it is that they both can see the same sun even though they're not in the same place.
It's a great showcase of generational differences as Sophie feels so entranced in her realization while Calum fails to comprehend the beauty of it. It's both a heartwarming and devastating quote when taking the future Sophie into account, now revolted and sad because of the distance between her and Calum. In the end, sharing the same sun is the only thing that keeps them together.
"How Come You And Mom Say 'Love You'?"
Sophie
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There are plenty of things the mind of a child can't quite understand and intimacy is one of them. Calum and Sophie's mother clearly grew apart from each other and are no longer in love, yet they share a precious bond ever since Sophie was born. Although they are no longer together romantically, there's a shared love and joy that will always be present, a clear showcase of how love never really goes away.
Calum isn't coherent when he tries to explain to Sophie why he and her mom say "love you" to each other because he himself doesn't really understand, it's just natural. "Your mother is family," he says, and that should settle the subject.
"I Can't See Myself At 40, To Be Honest"
Calum
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Aftersun doesn't give viewers any answers that can't be found in Sophie and Calum's trip. Even there, while it's clear Calum is struggling, viewers never really understand what's causing him so much pain and how will affect him in the future. From older Sophie's perspective, it's obvious how Calum is no longer present in her life and one way to see things is assuming the distance, both physical and affective, between the two simply became something unbearable for both.
Another way to see things, though, is that perhaps Calum died by suicide and this quote might be the only time he puts his despair into words in the movie. What's even more painful is realizing he says this after the man he was talking to is gone, implying that it's a confession to himself.
"I Just Feel A Bit Down Or Something."
Sophie
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Aftersun explores between the lines of joy and a state of mind filled with existential dread, somewhat melancholic, even though there's no reason for it in that particular moment. Everything seems to be hitting Calum harder than he would expect, in a way he often feels like the child in the father-and-daughter relationship.
Well, every parent was once a child and perhaps the child within them never leaves. When Sophie talks about feeling down for no apparent reason after an amazing day and how she feels like she's sinking and being consumed by tiredness, she seems to describe exactly how Calum feels, and it breaks him a little. Moments like this make the film of the saddest movies of recent years.
"Each Of These Carpets Tell A Different Story"
Calum
Just as the man at the store says each carpet tells a different story, Calum prepares to tell his own story in one of them. The seemingly innocent line foreshadows the importance the carpet will have in Sophie's life in the future, one of the few tangible things from her father she keeps with her in the future.
Aftersun counts on plenty of beautiful symbolism and the carpet purchased by Calum is one of them. He is drawn by it, almost as if he knows the importance it will have to his daughter. His story will be found in it.
"You Can Live Wherever You Want To Live."
Calum
In a sweet and honest father-and-daughter moment, Calum seems fascinated by Sophie's innocence. The whole scene is crafted beautifully; the song playing gets lost in the background to give space to a solemn quietness. Calum caresses Sophie's head tenderly and seems to be lost in his thoughts almost as if he's talking more to himself than to his daughter.
There's a certain sadness in these lines as if he left something out. While Calum looks beguiled and captivated by his daughter in this scene, it feels like what he really wanted to say was "thankfully, you're not like me."
"Offering To Pay For Something When You Don't Have The Money."
Sophie
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Every single thing begins to go wrong between Calum and Sophie in the day that precedes his birthday. His mood is inconstant, he seems distant, and in one of the most heartbreaking scenes of Aftersun, Sophie signs the two up for a Karaoke contest, and he stubbornly refuses, leaving Sophie singing alone on stage.
When she returns, Calum says the cruelest thing a father could say to a daughter, undermining her value by saying she didn't do well on stage. She, in return, says the cruelest thing a daughter could say to a father as if what he gives her will never be enough. They were both angry, of course, but Sophie's words are devastating to Calum especially because he's struggling with the possibility of not being the father she needs.
"I Want You To Know That You Can Talk To Me About Anything"
Calum
Aftersun offers mesmerizing insights into fatherhood and this scene is one that truly stands out. Calum himself is quite young and struggles to understand his role as a father at times, but one thing in his favor is how open and straightforward he's with Sophie. They trust each other and, above else, he wants her to know that she can talk to him about anything. She can open up about the times she messes up, the parties she goes to, the boys she meets, and so on.
The scene is sweet but also melancholic because at this point of the movie viewers know Calum didn't stick around as he should. Even if Sophie did tell him about all those things as she got older, it's highly possible that he couldn't keep the promise to listen to her.
"There's This Feeling, Once You Leave Where You Grew Up, That You Don't Totally Belong There Again."
Calum
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In one of the most intimate moments of the movie, Calum opens up to Sophie after she asks him whether he ever plans to go back to Scotland, unleashing bruises from the past. Wholehearted, Calum talks about how he never felt he really belonged where he grew up, while Sophie, in contrast, says "it's home".
The whole scene is a pivotal moment when it comes to understanding Calum's inner battle. He's fighting inner battles, but exactly against what is never revealed. With this line, it becomes evident how hard he's trying to run away from his past and, unfortunately, Sophie will eventually suffer because of this.