Anecdotes

Aftersun (2022) is loosely based on Charlotte Wells' own personal experience of a holiday she went on with her father.

According to a 2022 interview, Frankie Corio (Sophie) stated that her on-screen father Paul Mescal (Calum) became very close during filming and still face-time each other to stay in contact.

In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Charlotte Wells explained the importance of using R.E.M.'s song "Losing My Religion" in a critical scene in the film: "Our music supervisor had originally asked me to come up with alternatives for 'Losing My Religion,' which was a problem because I felt that nothing else would be remotely appropriate. The lyrics in that scene are going to be read into, it's completely unavoidable. I had chosen that song instinctively; it was probably the first song I ever knew all the words to at age 5 or 6. That's a completely absurd image now, but it's the product of having had young parents, I'm sure. But it was a song I have strong emotions about, that I connect to my dad and I'm really grateful we got it. I also have to give credit to Frankie Corio because we only had one and a half takes to get it. She hates that song, she wouldn't rehearse it, and I had to sing it to try and encourage her to come onstage for the shot."

According to Paul Mescal (Calum) in an interview, he and Frankie Corio (Sophie) spent two weeks prior to filming in a hotel resort on holiday together to form the bond that was needed to portray the father-daughter relationship once filming began.

Director Charlotte Wells auditioned over 800 girls for the lead role of Sophie, before landing on newcomer Frankie Corio.