Aftersun is a 2022 coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Charlotte Wells in her directorial debut.
Set in the 1990s, Sophie fondly reflects on the precious moments shared with her loving father, Calum, even twenty years after their last visit to a dilapidated resort. At the tender age of 11, Sophie confronts the realities of growing up while Calum grapples with the challenges of being a single parent.
Sophie’s recollections vividly portray the poignant and emotional bond they shared as she tries to reconcile the image of the father she knew with the one she didn’t.
What Happened at the End of Aftersun?
Sophie and Calum’s final night in Turkey is one they won’t forget. They indulge in some delicious ice cream and move their bodies to the beat of “Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie, delivering an unforgettable dance sequence that will leave audiences in awe when they watch the film in 2022.
Meanwhile, the movie shows glimpses of Sophie’s adult self, observing her father dance at a rave as she cries for his attention, which he seems oblivious to. The camera then alternates between adult Sophie embracing her father and young Sophie dancing joyfully with him. Finally, Sophie hugs her father before departing to her mother’s care. As Calum puts the camera away and walks alone through the airport hallway, the scene ends.
When the movie concludes, we see Calum photographing Sophie as she waves farewell before turning around and walking through a pair of double doors that have strobe lights behind them.
What Happened to Sophie’s Dad in Aftersun?
Calum’s crippling depression is evident throughout the film, his depression is peaked at several scenes of the movie, and he’s fighting through self-guilt.
Calum is pretty much battling suicidal thoughts throughout the films, right from his intrusive thought of jumping into the ocean to his readiness to get squashed by a bus; it’s for sure that his mental health is declining. Therefore, it can be concluded that Calum took his life shortly after his vacation with Sophie.
From the summary of the movie, it is evident that this will be their final vacation as a group, but the reason behind it has yet to be made clear. However, after viewing Aftersun, it becomes apparent that Calum either dies as a result of his careless behavior or commits suicide after the trip.
In either scenario, he is no longer a part of their lives. This conclusion can be drawn from several key clues, such as the fact that it is their last holiday together and Calum’s repeated recklessness throughout the film.
Why Was Calum Crying in Aftersun?
Calum is evidently facing major mental illness issues, which is evident throughout the film. Moreover, one can also see how Calum is doing everything in his power to ensure that Sophie enjoys the trip but finds himself struggling to do the same.
Calum is constantly on the verge of a mental breakdown and, therefore, breaks down in tears more often than any normal person would do. His decaying mental health peeked through him, no matter how hard he tried to conceal it.
His depression had, perhaps, gotten so severe that it overshadowed any possibility of him even considering a peaceful life ahead. Also, the guilt that Calum wasn’t able to be the father that he wanted to be and give Sophie all the happiness of life starts eating him from within.
Hence, he tries what he can do and manages to bring joy into his daughter’s life through small tokens of happiness, for instance, taking her to the beach.
What Is the Meaning Behind the Movie Aftersun?
Aftersun not only highlighted the beautiful bond of a father-daughter, but it also ended up subtly highlighting the importance and relevance of good parenting. Sophie’s relationship with her mother is a subject left untouched for most of the film; it’s pretty sad to witness a child deprived of the healthy parenthood that she rightly deserves.
Throughout the film, Calum fights his inner demons and struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts. As viewers, it’s evident in his actions, said or unsaid, to identify this.
However, this is not the case for Sophie, an 11-year-old child, who is clueless as to why his father is so deep in melancholy all the time. Calum’s further trying to conceal his depression and faking it around Sophie only results in the poor kid being more confused about her father’s health and overall bond.
There’s a lot of debate on how viewers ended up supporting Calum and his declining mental health in the movie. But no matter what the case, what Sophie has to go through is not justified because of her parent’s indecisiveness.
Sophie’s fate will be that she’ll probably be left in trauma because of all of the emotional ups and downs throughout her childhood, and no child deserves to end up like this.
Does After Have a Sad Ending?
Aftersun deals with the depictions of depression and grief as it meditates on childhood, parenthood, and memory. The movie also depicts Calum’s crippling depression and failure to fight back at it, eventually taking his life.
Although this is not made evident in the film, it can be easily interpreted through many scenes, especially the ending. While a financially broke and mentally ill father, Calum does all he can to make his one last trip with his daughter Sophie enjoyable, and he indeed ends up making it worth remembering for her.
It can be predicted what impact Calum’s demise might have on the 11-year-old and for sure give her scars for life. Although Sophie is seen overcoming all the sadness and living a happy-loving life in the film, the movie’s take on depression, mental illness, abandonment, and suicide gives it a sad undertone.
Aftersun is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Did you like the ending of Aftersun? What is your interpretation of Calum’s fate?
Does the movie have a sad undertone, or rather, find it optimistic? Let us know what you think!
