Memories often betray us. They conjure up a past that never existed, or at least existed in a very different reality than what we actually lived. Yet, we hold onto them, sometimes for dear life as if they were the last piece of wreckage saving us from a watery grave. Aftersun seeks to explore how memories craft an expression of someone, a conjuring of someone from imperfect recollections and materialize that in our minds to try and better understand them after time has passed.
To put into words the unimaginable situation that the cast and crew found themselves in upon the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman is impossible. Any attempts to match the cultural impact of the first film in the sequel became infinity more difficult without its charismatic, heroic lead. Yet somehow, director Ryan Coogler and his talented cast and crew have crafted a profound and emotional sequel that tackles themes of grief, loss, and legacy.
Nothing is more powerful than the love, and strong will, of a mother. That’s the tone and energy that Till operates with, the devastating story of Mamie Till-Mobley in the wake of tragedy, and seeing the lengths that she’ll will go to for some form of justice, even if the likelihood of finding it seems low. However, the impending case and headlines surrounding the death of Emmett Till become so much more then just one mother seeking answers for what happened to her son.