Aftersun (2022)
A haunting debut from Charlotte Wells, Aftersun traces a daughter's attempt to understand a father she thought she knew.
Aftersun - Movie Information
- Original Title: Aftersun
- Release Year: 2022
- Directed by: Charlotte Wells
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Age Rating (US): R
- Runtime: 1h 41m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: Turkish, Spanish, English
- Release Date (Theatrical): November 17, 2022 (Chile), November 18, 2022 (United Kingdom - 12A), December 15, 2022 (Germany - 12), February 1, 2023 (France - TP), February 23, 2023 (Australia - M), December 1, 2022 (Brazil - 14), November 17, 2022 (Mexico - B-15), December 16, 2022 (Spain - 12), February 1, 2023 (South Korea - 12)
- Alternative Titles: アフターサン (JP), Poslije sunca (HR), 日麗 (TW), 日麗 (HK), Akharei Ha'Shemesh (IL), Güneş Sonrası (TR), کرم پس از آفتاب (IR), 애프터썬 (KR)
- Production Companies: PASTEL, BBC Film, Tango Entertainment, Unified Theory, Screen Scotland, BFI
- Production Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America
Aftersun - Plot
Sophie reflects on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier. Memories fill the gaps between camcorder footages as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the troubled man she didn't.
Aftersun - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and experience the film's quietly devastating atmosphere:
Memory burns.
Where to Watch Aftersun
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Aftersun - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Charlotte Wells
Main Cast
- Paul Mescal
- Frankie Corio
- Brooklyn Toulson
- Celia Rowlson-Hall
- Sally Messham
- Ayşe Parlak
- Sophia Lamanova
- Spike Fearn
- Harry Perdios
- Frank Corio
Writers
- Charlotte Wells
Producers
- Adele Romanski
- Barry Jenkins
- Mark Ceryak
- Amy Jackson
Aftersun - FAQs
What does the ending of Aftersun mean?
The ending of Aftersun suggests that Calum, Sophie's father, likely died by suicide sometime after their Turkish holiday. Adult Sophie, piecing together fragmented memories and camcorder footage, finally confronts the depth of his hidden depression — a grief she couldn't fully comprehend as a child but now carries as an adult.
Is Aftersun based on a true story?
Aftersun is semi-autobiographical. Director Charlotte Wells drew on personal memories of holidays spent with her own father during childhood. While not a literal retelling, the film's emotional core — a daughter reckoning with a parent's hidden pain — is deeply rooted in Wells's own experience and imagination.
Where can you watch Aftersun online?
Aftersun is available to stream for free on Tubi TV, Hoopla, The Roku Channel, Xumo Play, and Plex. It can also be rented or purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Plex and Spectrum On Demand also offer rental options.
Who are the main actors in Aftersun?
Aftersun stars Paul Mescal as Calum, a young father navigating quiet inner turmoil, and Frankie Corio as Sophie, his perceptive eleven-year-old daughter. Celia Rowlson-Hall plays Adult Sophie, whose present-day perspective frames the film's retrospective structure. The performances are widely regarded as career-defining.
What is Aftersun about?
Aftersun follows Sophie as she revisits memories of a Turkish holiday she shared with her father Calum when she was eleven. Through camcorder footage and fragmented recollections, the film explores the gap between the father she knew and the troubled man she didn't — a meditation on memory, loss, and unspoken grief.
Did Aftersun win any major awards?
Aftersun earned widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades. Paul Mescal received a BAFTA nomination and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Charlotte Wells won the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film debut. The film appeared on dozens of critics' best-of-2022 lists and won multiple independent film awards.
What is the age rating for Aftersun?
Aftersun is rated R in the United States. In the United Kingdom it carries a 12A certificate, meaning children under 12 may watch with adult supervision. Other territories assign ratings between 12 and 14, reflecting the film's mature emotional themes, brief sexual content, and depictions of mental health struggles.
How long is Aftersun and who directed it?
Aftersun runs for 101 minutes and was written and directed by Charlotte Wells, marking her feature debut. Produced by Barry Jenkins and Adele Romanski among others, the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022 and was released theatrically in the United States on October 21, 2022.
More About Aftersun
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