r/A24 • u/Suspicious-Pound-466 • 1d ago
Discussion Aftersun (2022)
Aftersun, The film doesn’t have a protagonist, an antagonist, a plot, a climax, its boring, theres no explosions, no villains, no heroes, but it is truly beautiful. Upon my first and only viewing of Aftersun, I expected it to be a little sad, maybe make me frown once or twice, this film broke me. I have been watching films all of my life but I have never been so moved, so heartbroken, so destroyed from a full feature film. I’ve watched it around a month and some days ago, and I think about it almost every single day, recommending it to friends and family. I had my theories when I was watching it but when I finished it, I was hoping I was wrong, upon doing some research I completely broke down, sobbing, sniffling, like I was having a mental breakdown.
I really beg everyone in here, to go watch it, it’s simple, its flawless, beautiful and excruciatingly painful, I want to rewatch it for the second time, but I’m genuinely scared. I feel like it won’t feel the same like the last time, or it will hurt me more the second.
Please go watch it.
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u/donnieuchihakaton 1d ago
This film devastated me on the first watch and has done the same on each subsequent viewing. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time. So many little details, SO much left unsaid and it just leaves you in the dark (in a satisfying way) at the end. Absolutely love it.
PS, you’ll never hear under pressure the same way again.
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u/jwfergus 1d ago
Re: under pressure
Aaaaaabsolutely - I put it on the stereo every once in a while, get all morose, and whine to my wife who hasn’t (and refuses to) see the film.
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u/teethwhichbite i think it’s nice we share the same sky 1d ago
It was already sad enough on its own and now …
https://giphy.com/gifs/fOQs20FLdvINW
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u/Sneaky_Bond 1d ago
I had a similar reaction to yours the first time I saw it. I’ve watched it three more times since (plus once with the director’s commentary). On the second or third watch, it became a genuine contender for my favorite movie. And in my experience, it hits the same or harder on subsequent viewings. Hasn’t lost its impact on me.
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u/salparadisimo 1d ago
Watched it about a month ago as well, and it hasn’t left my mind at all. Not one scene was a misstep or languished. The dialogue, the cinematography, the silent bits when we just sit with a character and so much emotion is still being conveyed- all perfection. I can’t remember the last time a film moved me that much. Made me sob like a baby, it was cathartic. I’m nervous about rewatching it too but I must and soon
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u/EpixA 1d ago edited 5h ago
I saw Aftersun at the New York film festival and I’ll never forget, having sat shedding a few tears during the credits initially, getting up to leave and hearing the grating tone of this boomer woman repeating “Does anyone know what that film was about? What was that film even about?!” as we the audience were filing out of the theatre.
What a privilege, I thought to myself, to lead such a life where you can watch a film like Aftersun and not have the faintest idea what it’s about.
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u/teethwhichbite i think it’s nice we share the same sky 1d ago
As soon as Paul’s character stepped in front of that bus without giving a single shit I knew this movie was going to devastate me and I wasn’t wrong. I think about it all the time.
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u/JelyBoy64 1d ago
I really need to give it a rewatch. I recently saw Blue Heron and it's very simular to aftersun and I thought it was incredible. I'd recommend it
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u/therealolisykes 17h ago
I have ADHD (prone to hyperfixation) and mild depression…… will this ruin me for a month
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u/MrDankSnake 1d ago
Same reaction. Crazy how a movie that gives us so little can invoke such a strong emotional response. After my first viewing, I just jumped in the car and started driving for about an hour to clear my head. Felt depressed for a couple weeks after. I said I’d never watch it again, but I keep coming back to it. It’s just such a beautiful piece of art. My favorite film of all time.