Fans say the movie, now on Netflix, has one of the saddest final scenes ever made
Mescal received an Oscar and BAFTA nomination for his performance(Image: AP)
Subscribers to Netflix can now discover an ‘unforgettable’ film described as the ‘most devastating film of the century’.
Originally released back in 2022, Aftersun is now available as part of the streamer’s extensive library. The Oscar-nominated film was the debut of writer and director Charlotte Wells, who used memories from her own childhood as inspiration for the story.
According to its synopsis, the film is set in a fading resort where 11-year-old Sophie cherishes rare time with her loving and idealistic father, Calum. What Sophie doesn’t know as she approaches her teenage years is that Calum is struggling under the weight of life outside of fatherhood.
Twenty years later, Sophie’s tender memories of their last vacation become a powerful and heartbreaking portrait of their relationship as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the man she didn’t.
Irish actor Paul Mescal leads the cast as Calum, a role for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He also got a nod for a BAFTA while picking up the Scottish BAFTA for his performance.
Mescal’s career would see a significant rise after the release of Aftersun. He would go on to star in titles including Gladiator II, Hamnet and is set to play Paul McCartney in the upcoming Beatles biopic.
It was a hit with critics and film fans alike. As seen by the fact that it registered a score of 95% on the website Rotten Tomatoes, with a fan rating of 82%.
One reviewer went so far as to call the film “one of the most quietly devastating films of the century”, before adding “no masterpiece from this decade is as quietly impressive as Charlotte Wells’ feature directorial debut, Aftersun.”
While Empire’s verdict at the time of its release read: “This mesmerizing debut will leave you wanting to be suspended in its sun-drenched setting with its two captivating protagonists for far longer than the running time. A triumph of new British filmmaking.”
Many fans described how they were emotionally affected after watching the film. One called it: “A masterpiece drenched in tragedy and pain.”
Another added: “An absolutely perfect, haunting and therapeutic work of art.” Several others touched on the film’s final moments, which they claimed make it one of the saddest scenes and films ever made.
One viewer admitted: “The first time I saw it, I cried my eyes out at the last scene. The next time I cried the whole time.”
Another wrote: “Aftersun is devastating. The final act was incredible. It’s especially moving because so much is based on the director’s real memories.”
Aftersun is streaming on Netflix.
