Aftersun (2022)

Sophie (11) is with her father Calum for their annual holiday. Though Calum and Sophie's mother aren't together and it's clear they had her very young, it's also obvious that Calum and Sophie have a good relationship. He's caring and goofy and their dynamic is easy.

But it's in their solo moments that we catch glimpses of what's going on beneath the surface. Sophie is on the cusp of puberty, interested in watching the teens flirt and kiss as well as embarking on her own young romance. Calum is often sad, sometimes behaves dangerously (e.g. diving without a license, balancing on a balcony railing), and has a strong yearning for beauty.

The entire story is also told in flashback, which we know because there are scenes of adult Sophie viewing videos of their holiday. There are also flashes of a rave wherein Calum -- looking no older than he did on holiday -- appears to interact with adult Sophie. Though I'm still somewhat unsure of the meaning, I've spent a lot of time reflecting on this duo and I have thoughts. Most of them center on the fact that we can never completely know anyone... and that having great love for someone isn't always enough reason to stay.

It's beautiful work.

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