Aftersun is subtly soulful. It follows an understated father-daughter relationship while effortlessly digging into heavy topics. Through a gentle and indirect story, Aftersun contemplates mental health, communication, perspective, memory, time, connection, growth, and vulnerability. These interpretable themes are quietly woven into small moments between endearing characters, making it incredibly relatable and subconsciously striking. Meanwhile, the acting of Mescal and Corio is perfectly in tune with the film's delivery. They provide vivid chemistry, layers, range, nuance, internal tension, and authenticity. Consequently, Aftersun is delicately elusive yet intensely insightful.
Aftersun is both a surreal metaphor and a grounded memoir achieved through restrained filmmaking. The editing intercuts dreams, home videos, memories, and the present. There's sentimental pacing, match cuts, dissolves, inserts, montages, passing cuts, and potent momentum shifts. Next, its visuals use varied lighting, telling composition, focus, angles, colors, motion, and one-point perspective. The symbolic yet natural sound adds split cuts, silence, emphasis, voiceovers, and meaningful diegetics. Finally, the music is ambient, nostalgic, and mournful, utilizing emotional scoring and redefined pop songs for thematic weight. Overall, Aftersun is intimately moving and poetically crafted.
Writing: 10/10
Direction: 10/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Acting: 10/10
Editing: 10/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 9/10
Production Design: 7/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 6/10
Overall Score: 8.7/10
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