Aftersun ★★★★

CHARLOTTE Wells’ relationship drama Aftersun isn’t an easy watch, but it’s a very rewarding one.

The story of a young father’s relationship with his daughter is told at a very measured pace and, on occasions, in almost experimental fashion.

Cinemagoers who prefer linear story-telling within a fairly traditional structure will likely be frustrated at times by the gaps and jumps the audience is required to fill.

But there is no doubting the compelling and highly emotional journey on which Wells takes both her characters and anyone who has been faced with growing up as both a child and an adult.

The official synopsis describes the film as a coming-of-age story that follows Sophie, an 11-year-old Scottish girl, on vacation in Turkey with her father Calum. Interestingly, perhaps having been a father myself, I would have said the film follows a young Scottish man on vacation with his 11-year-old daughter.

Either way, the film works as a coming-of-age for both characters – Sophie in the sense you would anticipate, but also Calum in trying to come to terms with the responsibility of being a father and the sole provider of both monetary and emotional support to his daughter.

It’s a role that Calum thinks he is ill-equipped to perform but is actually simply trying his hardest like every other parent and fails to realise this reality.

Relative newcomer Paul Mescal is terrific in a role that requires him to exercise incredible control over his emotional side. He deserves the surprise Oscar nomination for Best Lead Actor while Frankie Corio is also exceptionally good as Sophie.

Aftersun is one of those films that, provided you have the patience, will slowly envelop your heart and mind, leaving you with a flood of emotions and questions fundamental to basic relationships.