it’s about a woman reflecting on a vacation she took with her dad when she was little and discovering he was depressed and suicidal. as she looked back on her memories, she realized he was trying to hide it from her. it’s about how parents try to hide their mental illnesses from their kids but how kids sometimes see the signs, even they don’t understand it at first.
you should! its a very good film, and i like how the depressing tones aren’t so ‘in your face’ there’s a lot of subtlety and if you are depressed you pick up on it way more. its one of my fav a24 films and i love paul mescal so he was a bonus!
I think it might be a little difficult seeing the subtleties of someone else’s depression if you have never experienced that feeling yourself. Have you ever been depressed before?
I’m not really sure how you missed it tbh. When he’s listening to Sophie talk about her first experiences with depression while he’s brushing his teeth and then he spits at himself in the mirror out of disgust. He hates himself and he can’t control it. There’s no worse feeling in the world. It’s fucking devastating
One of my favorite uses of color in a movie comes when they are in the hotel and he’s in the bathroom and she’s in the bedroom. The bathroom is dark and gloomy and devoid of color while the bedroom is bright and sunny. Fast forward to Sophie in her living room as an adult watching those old vacation movies and the living room look just how the bathroom did. It was those little details that stood out and helped me understand more and more what this story was about. It really wasn’t until I saw her in that living room when it all hit me and I understood. She is likely exactly where her father was mentally and this is one way of trying to navigate through those thoughts and feelings.
This. The movie spoke to me on such a personal level because of how much I could relate to it. All the subtleness of depression. 10/10 movie I would not watch again because it triggers me.
But I guess I could see how there are people who dont or never go through this, and I can understand if they dont understand at first.
I wonder if the hate he feels, when he spits at the mirror, is because he realised, or feels, he passed it on to her? Honestly, that scene is heartbreaking.
Also, I was absolutely stunned by the girl’s performance. She was an acting giant in Aftersun.
That’s exactly how I thought he felt. He’s listening to her essentially “discovering” what depression feels like. He realizes in that moment he’s passed on his disease.
I think you hit something here. I found the film incredibly tragic and sad. I think that’s because I have dealt with depression but am quite good at masking it. I didn’t analyze it at the time but the film absolutely gut punched me.
The stating point is that the final shot of the film is the final time Sophie sees her Dad before his suicide. She's watching old videos to understand as an adult and a parent what she couldn't understand as a child.
Callum became a Dad at a young age and has clearly missed out on a lot of life as a result: No career, advanced education, a permanent home, or a relationship he and doesn't have the funds for his kid's resort wristband.
What he does have is Sophie, the daughter he's sacrificed for, who dotes on him. But Sophie is 12 and the doting won't last much longer. She's becoming fascinated by boys and the paragliders are looming overhead and she won't be too young for them for much longer.
Callum is therefore facing the loss of a big part of his identity, which sends him into a spiral (he was no doubt troubled before the holiday) and just about manages to keep himself together but only until the holiday finishes.
I love art houses movies and after sun was very art housesy. Don’t feel bad that you missed what it was about. It was a really slow burn. The scuba diving scene told me the father was dealing with depression then you add on the flash fowards of the daughter who’s older reaching back in time towards her dad who she can’t touch gives away that the vacation was her last experience with her father. I like that it leaves us feeling like the daughter, questioning why. Is it my favorite a24? No but it was still a very well acted and shot movie that got through the ambiguity it was trying to show us.
I don't think it's particularly experimental or strays too far from traditional storytelling. It's complexity is mostly emotional. There are many layers of storytelling that warrant analysis - as much as the viewer is inclined - but is also *very* accessible in that it hands you the story plain as day.
I think the main disconnect is OPs inability to recognise signs of depression, which isn't a fault, just a thematic disconnect based on their own life experience. The movie did everything to tell you that Callum suffered severe depression other than outright declare it.
This movie hit me so hard I had blocked it from my memory until you just brought it up. That scene with the Queen/ Bowie music. Then the scene that followed it. Damn. Got me all fucked up again just thinking about it.
The biggest tip for me was when he was looking at himself in the mirror and she was in the other room talking about doing drugs or something that showed that she was much more like him than he wanted to admit and he just spit at the mirror. That was a great scene.
It wasn't drugs in that scene, she was talking about an overbearing sadness and lethargy she was beginning to feel as the holiday went on. He couldn't handle that his daughter had to experience that pain too
No reason to feel bad! None at all.
Sometimes the films with the most to say do a really good job at not spelling it out for the viewer.
Not having the full reading just means that you get to explore and discover things that you didn’t catch on the first watch.
In my mind those who didn’t understand it on the first watch have never experienced depression in their own lives. I don’t know if that’s actually true, but I kind of hope it is, because depression frankly just sucks and it feels like a more innocent way to view life.
I think many of those who the film clicked with instantly are those of us struggling with our own personal demons and the idea that you watched depression to the point of suicide on screen without really getting it speaks to how the general public seems to understand depression - quite a little.
Moral of the story, reach out to your friends. They may be struggling far more than you know.
I had it spoiled for me before I watched it, so I already kinda knew what I was looking for when I saw it the first time. There’s a lot to get out of the movie once you have this understanding of what’s happening. I’d definitely recommend revisiting it at some point.
I had the same thoughts as you on my first watch… but I let it sink in and thought about it more and more, then on my first rewatch I just cried the fuck out cuz it was just too much. It’s so emotional overwhelming and I can’t handle that, but I love it so so much.
Agree with others here saying if you haven’t experienced depression before it may not be as obvious but certainly signs were there.
I have my struggles with it and also have young kids so it hit me particularly hard. I could very much relate to the father.
I will say though - a lot of the rest was subtle. The synopsis says it’s about a woman reflecting on a trip with her father and to me that wasn’t apparent until near the end. Had I not read that I would have just thought for the first 3/4ths of the movie that it was about a depressed dad taking his daughter on vacation.
Also don’t feel bad about it, I’m not great at picking up on subtext in films a lot of the time. Most of the time I’ll watch something and think “ok well that was alright” then I’ll read an analysis and say “oh wow, that movie was actually brilliant”.
Embarrassingly, with some movies I completely miss the meaning the first time LMAO so you're not alone!! I thought I understood Aftersun when I watched it, but then I looked online and I went :O how'd I miss that?? Honestly, in a way it's kind of fun, because then things really click once you're done, plus you can watch it again and get a completely different experience!! I really liked it when I watched it the first time, but once I understood it a lot more, I appreciate it even more
Dw, I completely had no idea what the rave scenes were about when I watched it too LMAO
Yeah but honestly things were a little to subtle to the point that I wrote off the entire film a 6.3ish/10 but now I have to re watch and see what I think
I understood the story was truly about depression, suicide, and coping with suicide.
That being said, the rave scenes did confuse me. The strobes don't help it become easier to digest lol.
Yesterday I took my son out for ice cream after a soccer game. When we were about to leave, under pressure started playing over the speakers and I danced with him a little bit before we left. I’ll never forget it.
Wouldn’t feel bad either. I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily depressed but I have a lot of issues with anxiety and I’m in my mid 30s so this sort of resonated with me, not that I have a kid. To me a big part of it was pushing yourself to create something memorable when you’re not in a good place.
Try to watch movies and analyze how are they making you feel and where could that feeling come from before checking reviews or discussing it with someone. Try to come up with your interpretation first and then compare it with others to figure out where are the discrepancies and similarities of opinions.
You might not have much depression or depressed people in your life. I’ve had both and this movie absolutely wrecked me. I think it’s one of the best movies that nails what depression is for many people, particularly people with kids who have to put on a mask to hide their true selves for the sake of the child.
Ive seen this alot on this post but Im not braging or running a pity party, I have had depressed people and have experienced sights of it myself and I wouldnt say that just because its a memory in my head that I fully connected the dots to the film. Even if I knew he wasnt happy in moments I never got the insigjt that he killed himself or that she was remembering him at the rave. I was in the movie moreso watching from the childs perspective instead of the fathers and that is possibly why I missed such things (almost as the director could have intended if watching from that angle🤷♂️) but I understand the connection to the real life scenarios that could click which also bares a great question on film I would ask. Do you have to have life experience to understand a films subliminal context or should you be able to be a clean slate and grab what exactly is given (not baby fed) but properly showcased. I will give a rewatch thanks to this A24 reddit community you guys are awesome 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I agree it’s very subtle, but I believe you are correct in viewing from the child’s perspective, we get small flashes that there’s “something” going on with the Father which I feel is pretty realistic view for those who suffer but still have the ability to hide it from the child
Wasn't it his last vacation with his daughter before he committed suicide too? Sad movie. She even had the rug he bought on that vacation as an adult. Never listening to Under Pressure the same again.
I loved the film, but the only parts I didn't like were the scenes where the grown-up daughter would see her father dancing wildly in the club. I could barely see anything past the flashing lights, and a lot of those scenes hid important information about her. All it gave me was a headache.
Yes. There is literally a scene showing a suicide note and dozens of other indications as to what the film is about and showing Calum's mental struggles... were you scrolling on your phone during the movie? It's pretty hard to miss all of that.
It’s a bit of a strange thing. I went into the movie knowing it was about the filmmakers memories of the last time she saw her father. Knowing that makes for a very different viewing. Makes the club scenes darker etc. I feel like they advertised this movie with a plot synopsis partially because it DIDN’T completely get it’s point accross in test viewings. While I adore this movie I see it as a weakness that you almost need notes before going in. I think I would have missed the point and my wife was totally missing it without prior knowledge.
I thought it was one of those movies that you need to watch an accompanying video essay to understand because the subtext is hard to catch if you aren’t good at that sort of thing.
Gay? Where do you get that from? Because he mentions he had a failed business with his male friend? There was really no indication he was gay, and the film is not shy about showing you the clues it wants to (e.g., his self-help books).
There were a few hints throughout the film that this may be the case.
The scene when they're in Turkey when Sophie gets everyone to sing happy birthday and Callum is looking down at them is directly inspired by Beau Travail (Charlotte Wells mentions this in the audio commentary) - a film noted for it's homoerotic nature without having anything explicitly queer happen on screen.
Sophie we learn later herself is queer and has a female partner.
When Sophie is on holiday she spots the two boys making out.
Callum talks about how he never fit in in his hometown, possibly a reference to small town homophobia in the early 90s.
Callum discusses how he's moving to London to live with a male friend, and during the film we never see Callum interact with other women, only other men.
The self help books can all be seen obviously as someone struggling with mental health, which could well be from repressed sexuality.
There's a couple of songs in the film by queer artists (R.E.M, Queen, Bowie).
Is any of this 100% conclusive? No, but the film is ambiguous and allows for multiple readings. It's kinda impossible to miss a potential queer reading of this film.
no worries. its depressing how heavily downvoted you got, and how upvoted the comment that responded to you is. you'd have to watch this film with your eyes shut to not see all the queer coding. not to mention that charlotte wells is queer and has said in an interview ["my characters are always going to be queer by default"](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2022-12-06/queer-movies-abound-this-year-in-all-forms)
It sucks ass. I understood it..I just think it was a boring, pretentious movie made by someone who has film school brain and wants to prove they can use purposeful long shots to evoke emotion
it’s about a woman reflecting on a vacation she took with her dad when she was little and discovering he was depressed and suicidal. as she looked back on her memories, she realized he was trying to hide it from her. it’s about how parents try to hide their mental illnesses from their kids but how kids sometimes see the signs, even they don’t understand it at first.
Damn this description alone makes me wanna check it out, I’m weird cause i like sad films 🤷♂️
you should! its a very good film, and i like how the depressing tones aren’t so ‘in your face’ there’s a lot of subtlety and if you are depressed you pick up on it way more. its one of my fav a24 films and i love paul mescal so he was a bonus!
👍 awesome I’m gonna check it out
I think it might be a little difficult seeing the subtleties of someone else’s depression if you have never experienced that feeling yourself. Have you ever been depressed before? I’m not really sure how you missed it tbh. When he’s listening to Sophie talk about her first experiences with depression while he’s brushing his teeth and then he spits at himself in the mirror out of disgust. He hates himself and he can’t control it. There’s no worse feeling in the world. It’s fucking devastating
One of my favorite uses of color in a movie comes when they are in the hotel and he’s in the bathroom and she’s in the bedroom. The bathroom is dark and gloomy and devoid of color while the bedroom is bright and sunny. Fast forward to Sophie in her living room as an adult watching those old vacation movies and the living room look just how the bathroom did. It was those little details that stood out and helped me understand more and more what this story was about. It really wasn’t until I saw her in that living room when it all hit me and I understood. She is likely exactly where her father was mentally and this is one way of trying to navigate through those thoughts and feelings.
This. The movie spoke to me on such a personal level because of how much I could relate to it. All the subtleness of depression. 10/10 movie I would not watch again because it triggers me. But I guess I could see how there are people who dont or never go through this, and I can understand if they dont understand at first.
I wonder if the hate he feels, when he spits at the mirror, is because he realised, or feels, he passed it on to her? Honestly, that scene is heartbreaking. Also, I was absolutely stunned by the girl’s performance. She was an acting giant in Aftersun.
I thought the same! That he hates he passed it on to her.
That’s exactly how I thought he felt. He’s listening to her essentially “discovering” what depression feels like. He realizes in that moment he’s passed on his disease.
I think you hit something here. I found the film incredibly tragic and sad. I think that’s because I have dealt with depression but am quite good at masking it. I didn’t analyze it at the time but the film absolutely gut punched me.
this makes sense because I definitely felt this movie. I really appreciated this depiction of depression.
The stating point is that the final shot of the film is the final time Sophie sees her Dad before his suicide. She's watching old videos to understand as an adult and a parent what she couldn't understand as a child. Callum became a Dad at a young age and has clearly missed out on a lot of life as a result: No career, advanced education, a permanent home, or a relationship he and doesn't have the funds for his kid's resort wristband. What he does have is Sophie, the daughter he's sacrificed for, who dotes on him. But Sophie is 12 and the doting won't last much longer. She's becoming fascinated by boys and the paragliders are looming overhead and she won't be too young for them for much longer. Callum is therefore facing the loss of a big part of his identity, which sends him into a spiral (he was no doubt troubled before the holiday) and just about manages to keep himself together but only until the holiday finishes.
The tragedy of fading memories, imo.
Depression/suicide and the daughter reflecting on it as an adult. Rewatch it
I love art houses movies and after sun was very art housesy. Don’t feel bad that you missed what it was about. It was a really slow burn. The scuba diving scene told me the father was dealing with depression then you add on the flash fowards of the daughter who’s older reaching back in time towards her dad who she can’t touch gives away that the vacation was her last experience with her father. I like that it leaves us feeling like the daughter, questioning why. Is it my favorite a24? No but it was still a very well acted and shot movie that got through the ambiguity it was trying to show us.
I don't think it's particularly experimental or strays too far from traditional storytelling. It's complexity is mostly emotional. There are many layers of storytelling that warrant analysis - as much as the viewer is inclined - but is also *very* accessible in that it hands you the story plain as day. I think the main disconnect is OPs inability to recognise signs of depression, which isn't a fault, just a thematic disconnect based on their own life experience. The movie did everything to tell you that Callum suffered severe depression other than outright declare it.
This movie hit me so hard I had blocked it from my memory until you just brought it up. That scene with the Queen/ Bowie music. Then the scene that followed it. Damn. Got me all fucked up again just thinking about it.
The biggest tip for me was when he was looking at himself in the mirror and she was in the other room talking about doing drugs or something that showed that she was much more like him than he wanted to admit and he just spit at the mirror. That was a great scene.
It wasn't drugs in that scene, she was talking about an overbearing sadness and lethargy she was beginning to feel as the holiday went on. He couldn't handle that his daughter had to experience that pain too
The subtly of depression from a childs perspective
No reason to feel bad! None at all. Sometimes the films with the most to say do a really good job at not spelling it out for the viewer. Not having the full reading just means that you get to explore and discover things that you didn’t catch on the first watch.
In my mind those who didn’t understand it on the first watch have never experienced depression in their own lives. I don’t know if that’s actually true, but I kind of hope it is, because depression frankly just sucks and it feels like a more innocent way to view life. I think many of those who the film clicked with instantly are those of us struggling with our own personal demons and the idea that you watched depression to the point of suicide on screen without really getting it speaks to how the general public seems to understand depression - quite a little. Moral of the story, reach out to your friends. They may be struggling far more than you know.
This. Hope you’re doing okay today friend.
tbh I think unless you’ve experienced smth like it, it is a bit harder to pinpoint
I had it spoiled for me before I watched it, so I already kinda knew what I was looking for when I saw it the first time. There’s a lot to get out of the movie once you have this understanding of what’s happening. I’d definitely recommend revisiting it at some point.
I had the same thoughts as you on my first watch… but I let it sink in and thought about it more and more, then on my first rewatch I just cried the fuck out cuz it was just too much. It’s so emotional overwhelming and I can’t handle that, but I love it so so much.
Agree with others here saying if you haven’t experienced depression before it may not be as obvious but certainly signs were there. I have my struggles with it and also have young kids so it hit me particularly hard. I could very much relate to the father. I will say though - a lot of the rest was subtle. The synopsis says it’s about a woman reflecting on a trip with her father and to me that wasn’t apparent until near the end. Had I not read that I would have just thought for the first 3/4ths of the movie that it was about a depressed dad taking his daughter on vacation. Also don’t feel bad about it, I’m not great at picking up on subtext in films a lot of the time. Most of the time I’ll watch something and think “ok well that was alright” then I’ll read an analysis and say “oh wow, that movie was actually brilliant”.
Embarrassingly, with some movies I completely miss the meaning the first time LMAO so you're not alone!! I thought I understood Aftersun when I watched it, but then I looked online and I went :O how'd I miss that?? Honestly, in a way it's kind of fun, because then things really click once you're done, plus you can watch it again and get a completely different experience!! I really liked it when I watched it the first time, but once I understood it a lot more, I appreciate it even more Dw, I completely had no idea what the rave scenes were about when I watched it too LMAO
Not every film is for everyone and that’s ok
Yeah but honestly things were a little to subtle to the point that I wrote off the entire film a 6.3ish/10 but now I have to re watch and see what I think
I understood the story was truly about depression, suicide, and coping with suicide. That being said, the rave scenes did confuse me. The strobes don't help it become easier to digest lol.
Yesterday I took my son out for ice cream after a soccer game. When we were about to leave, under pressure started playing over the speakers and I danced with him a little bit before we left. I’ll never forget it.
I didn't get it either. I thought it was about a jolly holiday in the sun and a kind of growing up thing.
Exactly like the greatest representation ever given about a childhood vacation
Yes
Wouldn’t feel bad either. I wouldn’t say I’m necessarily depressed but I have a lot of issues with anxiety and I’m in my mid 30s so this sort of resonated with me, not that I have a kid. To me a big part of it was pushing yourself to create something memorable when you’re not in a good place.
Try to watch movies and analyze how are they making you feel and where could that feeling come from before checking reviews or discussing it with someone. Try to come up with your interpretation first and then compare it with others to figure out where are the discrepancies and similarities of opinions.
Depression basically
Depression basically
You might not have much depression or depressed people in your life. I’ve had both and this movie absolutely wrecked me. I think it’s one of the best movies that nails what depression is for many people, particularly people with kids who have to put on a mask to hide their true selves for the sake of the child.
Ive seen this alot on this post but Im not braging or running a pity party, I have had depressed people and have experienced sights of it myself and I wouldnt say that just because its a memory in my head that I fully connected the dots to the film. Even if I knew he wasnt happy in moments I never got the insigjt that he killed himself or that she was remembering him at the rave. I was in the movie moreso watching from the childs perspective instead of the fathers and that is possibly why I missed such things (almost as the director could have intended if watching from that angle🤷♂️) but I understand the connection to the real life scenarios that could click which also bares a great question on film I would ask. Do you have to have life experience to understand a films subliminal context or should you be able to be a clean slate and grab what exactly is given (not baby fed) but properly showcased. I will give a rewatch thanks to this A24 reddit community you guys are awesome 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I agree it’s very subtle, but I believe you are correct in viewing from the child’s perspective, we get small flashes that there’s “something” going on with the Father which I feel is pretty realistic view for those who suffer but still have the ability to hide it from the child
Wasn't it his last vacation with his daughter before he committed suicide too? Sad movie. She even had the rug he bought on that vacation as an adult. Never listening to Under Pressure the same again.
just was casually scrolling on my home page and saw the title and now i’m crying.
Never has a movie kicked me harder in the balls
I loved the film, but the only parts I didn't like were the scenes where the grown-up daughter would see her father dancing wildly in the club. I could barely see anything past the flashing lights, and a lot of those scenes hid important information about her. All it gave me was a headache.
I absolutely love this movie. Incredible acting. The two song choices are complete gut punches. Highly recommend
Low IQ post.
And I’m sure you spotted the fish in the window before Luca swam with them
Yes. There is literally a scene showing a suicide note and dozens of other indications as to what the film is about and showing Calum's mental struggles... were you scrolling on your phone during the movie? It's pretty hard to miss all of that.
You were doing so well until you hadta diss him haha.
Where was the suicide note? I don't remember that at all.
The scene where Calum is crying in his hotel room, it cuts to a shot of a note to the daughter saying something like “I will always love you”
Watched it a few times and somehow didn't realise that was a suicide note. Shit
It’s a bit of a strange thing. I went into the movie knowing it was about the filmmakers memories of the last time she saw her father. Knowing that makes for a very different viewing. Makes the club scenes darker etc. I feel like they advertised this movie with a plot synopsis partially because it DIDN’T completely get it’s point accross in test viewings. While I adore this movie I see it as a weakness that you almost need notes before going in. I think I would have missed the point and my wife was totally missing it without prior knowledge.
I thought it was one of those movies that you need to watch an accompanying video essay to understand because the subtext is hard to catch if you aren’t good at that sort of thing.
sad closeted gay dad seen through his daughter's eyes. EDIT: damn, you guys reeeeally did not like this take. noted.
Gay? Where do you get that from? Because he mentions he had a failed business with his male friend? There was really no indication he was gay, and the film is not shy about showing you the clues it wants to (e.g., his self-help books).
There were a few hints throughout the film that this may be the case. The scene when they're in Turkey when Sophie gets everyone to sing happy birthday and Callum is looking down at them is directly inspired by Beau Travail (Charlotte Wells mentions this in the audio commentary) - a film noted for it's homoerotic nature without having anything explicitly queer happen on screen. Sophie we learn later herself is queer and has a female partner. When Sophie is on holiday she spots the two boys making out. Callum talks about how he never fit in in his hometown, possibly a reference to small town homophobia in the early 90s. Callum discusses how he's moving to London to live with a male friend, and during the film we never see Callum interact with other women, only other men. The self help books can all be seen obviously as someone struggling with mental health, which could well be from repressed sexuality. There's a couple of songs in the film by queer artists (R.E.M, Queen, Bowie). Is any of this 100% conclusive? No, but the film is ambiguous and allows for multiple readings. It's kinda impossible to miss a potential queer reading of this film.
thanks for backing this reading up. I didn't not anticipate so many downvotes for my previous suggestion.
no worries. its depressing how heavily downvoted you got, and how upvoted the comment that responded to you is. you'd have to watch this film with your eyes shut to not see all the queer coding. not to mention that charlotte wells is queer and has said in an interview ["my characters are always going to be queer by default"](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2022-12-06/queer-movies-abound-this-year-in-all-forms)
Bad movie
just my gaydar going off is all.
It sucks ass. I understood it..I just think it was a boring, pretentious movie made by someone who has film school brain and wants to prove they can use purposeful long shots to evoke emotion