‘Aftersun’ (2022) And ‘Paper Moon’ (1974)
Re-inventing the intimate language of film
“The bonds between ourselves and another person exists only in our minds. Memory as it grows fainter loosens them, and notwithstanding the illusion by which we want to be duped and which, out of love, friendship, politeness, deference, duty, we dupe other people, we exist alone. Man is the creature who cannot escape from himself, who knows other people only in himself, and when he asserts the contrary, he is lying.”
― Marcel Proust, In Search of Lost Time
Aftersun premiered on BBC2 on Sunday night and I must thank whoever purchased the film rights for the BBC. It was one of the most powerful and yet intimate films I have ever seen.
The film was written and directed by Charlotte Wells and it was her directorial debut. Aftersun had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2022, where she was nominated for the Caméra d’Or. At the 76th BAFTA Awards, Wells won for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer.
Ostensibly the film is a coming-of-age drama which follows an 11-year-old Scottish girl, Sophie — played by Frankie Corio — on holiday with her father, Calum — played by Paul Mescal — at a Turkish resort on the eve of his 31st birthday. Mescal was nominated for the…
