“There’s something I would describe as very elegant about the way ‘Aftersun’ just hung around.”

Paul Mescal is proud of the wayAfter Sun” refused to fix himself.

The first-time Best Actor Oscar nominee returned to the independent film, scoring writer-director Charlotte Wells’ feature debut and co-star Frankie Corio’s breakout role. While “Aftersun” topped critics’ list for being the best movie of 2022, its only Oscar nomination was for Mescal.

“Look, ‘Aftersun’ was never going to be a country-grounded movie,” Mescal said. vanity lounge. “We promoted on the festival circuits, and then there was just nothing you could read; I did a lot of zooms and stuff while I was doing the piece [‘Streetcar Named Desire’], but I do not know. There’s something that I would describe as very elegant about the way ‘Aftersun’ just hung around.

Mescal called “Aftersun” the type of film that breaks through every year.

“You try to measure everything against saying, well, how ‘The worst person in the world’ did the year before, or something like that,” Mescal said. “Being part of one of the films this year that shot in space – the films I’m most looking forward to seeing every year – was really satisfying. Weirdly, these are the things I’ve always dreamed of. For A, to have something that goes into these things, but B, to go into all areas and let it be with someone like Charlotte [for her] first movie, it’s just like – yeah.

Mescal continued: “Honestly I couldn’t be prouder of the movies I’ve made to date – and I feel nervous because I want those lives for the movies. I therefore approach the next steps with anxiety. I know I get a taste of what it’s like to go and work with a writer, to be successful, and to feel pride in the filming process. But then you kind of want to nurse it through its trading life.

The star “Gladiator 2” previously told IndieWire that he reveled in the first surprise at Cannes for “Aftersun”.

“We have to do it and nobody knew about it,” Mescal said. “I don’t think it happens much more. I love a blockbuster as much as the next person, but my only point is that we have to be careful not to leave a little more room for movies like “Aftersun” to pop, movies like “Close” to pop. I really don’t think I’m a snob about it. It’s actually about worrying that this space [for independent film] is being encroached. And if we don’t keep the ecosystem balanced, we’ll only have one type of movie.

Register: Stay up to date with the latest film and TV news! Sign up for our email newsletters here.