Aftersun’s ending leaves viewers emotionally destroyed, but how does it accomplish that?

Aftersun Ending Explained: Did Calum Have Depression?

Hints are scattered throughout the movie’s narrative.

Paul Mescal as Calum in Aftersun, Frankie Corio as Sophie

Other moments see Sophie questioning how her father thought his life would end up when he was younger.

She also signs Calum up for karaoke behind his back.

Both of these lead to incredibly distressed reactions from him.

Paul Mescal as Calum in Aftersun

This is further conveyed through his attempts at working through this via self-help books and Tai Chi.

The contributing factors to Calum’s depression are also subtly implied through various conversations.

Much of this introspection is shown through the imagery of the rave.

Paul Mescal as Calum in Aftersun

The meaning behind the rave has led to many different interpretations.

One scene sees Calum eyeing up a rug but is unable to afford its 850 price tag.

He comes back later though and ends up buying it.

Celia Rowlson-Hall as adult Sophie in Aftersun

But why is that?

We see that the adult Sophie now has the carpet adorned on her wall.

Aftersunis available to buy and rent on digital.

Paul Mescal as Calum in Aftersun

LATEST NEWS

Surface Season 2 Cast, Characters & Actors (Photos) - All New & Returning Faces

Ser Harwin Strong’s Death Explained: Why He Got Killed Off In House of the Dragon

The Atypical Family Ending Explained: What Really Happens at the End of the KDrama

![Marvel Studios Reveals Every Official ‘New Avenger’ Going To Avengers: Doomsday](https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_thumbnail/the_new_avengers_teams.jpg?imgeng=/w_auto,280 280w)

![Marvel Studios Announces 2 Historic Supervillains In Phase 6](https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_thumbnail/marvel-phase-supervillains.jpg?imgeng=/w_auto,280 280w)

![2025 Superman Movie Will Now Give Clark Kent His Own Enemy (Confirmed)](https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_thumbnail/superman-clark-kent.jpg?imgeng=/w_auto,280 280w)

![Marvel Studios Releases Its First-Ever Venom Symbiote Funko Pop](https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_thumbnail/venom-funko.jpg?imgeng=/w_auto,280 280w)

![Andor Season 2 Just Brought Back 5 Key ‘Rogue One’ Characters (Photos)](https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_thumbnail/andor-rogues.jpg?imgeng=/w_auto,280 280w)

![Max Announces DC’s Next Superhero Show Releasing Before Peacemaker Season 2](https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_thumbnail/dc-peacemaker.jpg?imgeng=/w_auto,280 280w)

![Amazon Prime Video Announces Sequel to Its Biggest Movie Ever](https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_thumbnail/prime-vide-movie.jpg?imgeng=/w_auto,280 280w)

![Marvel Studios Confirms Historic Setting for Phase 6’s First Movie](https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_thumbnail/marvel-studios-phase-settings.jpg?imgeng=/w_auto,280 280w)

![Marvel Shares First Look at Robert Downey Jr. (Doctor Doom) On Avengers: Doomsday Set (Photos)](https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_thumbnail/robert_downey_jr_doctor_doom_haircut.jpg?imgeng=/w_auto,280 280w)

![Thunderbolts: Why Taskmaster Got [Spoilers], Explained by Marvel Director](https://images.thedirect.com/media/article_thumbnail/taskmaster-why.jpg?imgeng=/w_auto,280 280w)