Aftersun scene addressing Cleopatra's death emphasizes film's ambiguous ending

We take a look at the ending of Aftersun in the build-up to the Oscars this Sunday, March 12.

How the ending of Aftersun plays out

Throughout Aftersun, director and screenwriter Charlotte Wells dances between past and present. Parts of the film are told through home video footage and follows memories from their holiday in Turkey. We watch Sophie in the present day rewatching this video footage shot of her and Calum in an attempt to understand her dad and piece together what happened to him.

At the end of the film, Calum films Sophie as he drops her off at the airport. They are parting ways as Sophie flies home to her mum in Edinburgh. We watch as Calum waves goodbye before turning away and walking through the double doors.

We don’t know where Calum goes as he leaves the airport or if Sophie will ever see him again.

Cleopatra’s alleged suicide emphasizes ambiguity of Aftersun’s ending

One interpretation of Aftersun’s ending is that Calum dies after parting ways with Sophie. It is made clear that something has happened to Calum to spark Sophie’s interest as an adult, that she is trying to understand things about her father she couldn’t as a child.

Throughout the film, we get hints that Calum has been struggling with his mental health. His disregard for his own life and safety at multiple points has led some viewers to the conclusion that Calum takes his own life after the Turkey holiday.

Read Related Also: Taylor Swift & Matty Healy Reportedly Seen Kissing And Cuddling Amid Romance Rumors

But part of Aftersun’s storytelling centers on its ambiguity. Charlotte Wells avoids explicitly telling the viewer that Calum has depression. Wells also dances around the idea of Sophie’s grief in her adult life, meaning much is left in a grey area.

This is emphasized by the discussion between Sophie and Calum about Cleopatra’s death. It is widely accepted that Cleopatra, the legendary queen of Ancient Egypt, died by suicide. She is said to have allegedly died by the bite of a venomous snake. Despite a widely held belief that this was the cause of her death, Sophie and Calum explore the idea that no one will ever really know how Cleopatra died. This is paralleled by what happens to Calum at the end of the movie.

Aftersun director’s father died when she was 16

One of the most affecting takeaways from Aftersun was how Charlotte Wells tinged the film with grief. Wells has not shied away from how her personal life influenced the making of Aftersun. The director’s father died when she was just 16 years old, with Wells having previously described the film as “emotionally autobiographical.”

“That phrase truly haunts me,” Wells explained to The Atlantic about her previous comments. “It came up as a way to avoid ever answering this question,” specifically ones about how personal the film is. However, during her acceptance speech at the BAFTAs, Wells admitted that the film was a sort of “eulogy” to her late dad.

Paul Mescal is nominated for Best Actor for his performance as Calum. He goes up against Austin Butler (Elvis), Bill Nighy (Living), Brendan Fraser (The Whale), and Colin Farrell (The Banshees Of Inisherin) on the night.

If you are affected by any issues raised in the article or would like someone to speak to, please call the Samaritans for free on 116 123. You can also email them at [email protected] or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch in the UK. In the US, please visit Samaritans USA for more information.

You can also contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text 741741 to get in touch with the Crisis Text Line. Americans can now call or text 988 to reach out and speak to a counsellor.

Show all

In other news, Oscars 2023: Where to watch Women Talking as drama scores Best Picture nod