Solo date to the movies

Nothing like a warm day spent at the cinema.

After spending half my days between airports, I decided I needed to do something for a little pick-me-up. I could go shopping but I’ve already done heaps of that back in Malaysia to last me the whole year. I could watch a Fringe show but I’m just not in the mood for that at the moment. Then I remembered I wanted to watch this one movie that I had to miss last year because it was showing in the middle of exam season, so to the movies I went!

You know how people say Adelaide comes alive during the festival season? Believe them because it really does. With the welcoming dip in temperatures and bustling performances taking over Rundle Street, my spirits were lifted as I walked to Palace Nova. For a moment, all the stress I had gone through with my flight and my homesickness had ascended to the clear blue Adelaide sky.

I had gone to see Aftersun – a directorial debut by Scottish writer, Charlotte Wells. Starring the heartthrob of a man, Paul Mescal, and Frankie Corio. On its face, it’s a movie about a father and daughter who went on a vacation to Turkey. But it goes deeper than that, we’re watching adult Sophie watching a home video of her vacation with her dad when she was 11 who now understands what her father was really going through during that time. 

It explores some themes that might make you uncomfortable such as depression and implied suicide so proceed with caution, though. But the most gut-wrenching theme of it all is the idea that your parents are also experiencing life for the first time, that they are also trying to figure themselves out. 

We might not have noticed that with our parents because we’re used to assuming that adults just have it figured out and so to be confronted with the opposite in Aftersun was quite depressing. 

Overall, a beautiful movie with an amazing performance by Paul and Frankie. I must say it’s a bit slow and nothing really happens (ie. Not much talking, lots of visuals), so proceed with caution too if that’s not really your thing.

I thought I’d leave feeling slightly sad following such a heart-breaking movie but thanks to the cheery Adelaide atmosphere, my spirits were soon lifted again, and I got to enjoy a little stroll along Rundle Mall!