Aftersun

Aftersun is currently streaming in Australia on MUBI, and in the US on Kanopy, and it rewards the patience it asks of you. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 1,889 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Paul Mescal anchors it with a performance that rewards close attention. Put it on tonight on MUBI and see for yourself.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Aftersun earns its spot. Aftersun trusts its audience to sit with discomfort instead of resolving it too quickly. Sophie reflects on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday she took with her father twenty years earlier. Memories fill the gaps between camcorder footages as she tries to reconcile the father she knew with the troubled man she didn't. Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio lead a cast that treats the material with real seriousness. Aftersun came out in 2022. What elevates Aftersun is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in Aftersun. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Paul Mescal anchors a cast that never overplays its hand. The kind of drama that stays with you well after the finale.