Introduction
After We Collided is the second film in the After film series and continues to follow characters Tessa Young and Hardin Scott, played by Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin, respectively, from the first film. After We Collided is directed by Roger Kumble.
In contrast to After, the 2019 film and first installment in the series, is centered around discovery and the beginning stages of a relationship. After We Collided, in contrast, aims to examine the more complicated aspects of relationship maintenance. This includes the hurdles of personal development, trust, and past blunders to the crux of love’s foundation. This installment of the series further tackles the themes of closure, self-discovery, and emotional recovery from a painful separation.
Plot Overview
The second installment in the series picks up where the last film’s timeline left off. Tessa, a self driven, ambitious, and intelligent university student, starts the film having recently split from Hardin and is struggling with the emotional turmoil of their short lived relationship. In the film, Tessa is determined to take control of her life by focusing on her internship at a publishing company and moving on from Hardin.
Hardin, however, is mourning the loss of Tessa. Even though he appears to be confident, and at times brooding, he is revealed to be delicate and remorseful. He wishes to restore what he has broken, but in order to do that, he has to confront his personal doubts and shortcomings.
Throughout the movie, the two characters, regardless of their differences and emotional pain, are drawn near to one another. Tessa’s new found success takes her to the corporate world and allows her to meet many new people including a colleague named Trevor, who is very supportive of her. This new surroundings provides her an opportunity to see what life is like outside the relationship she has with Hardin, and this encourages her to contemplate what her life and love should be.
On the other hand, he begins to think more intensely about his actions and his fear of being left alone. He starts to understand that in order for him to change, he has to change his way of thinking, and understand that the change has to come from within. Hardin comes to the realization that love is more than just having feelings for someone; it is the willingness to accept responsibility, have love in your heart, and be respectful.
The film depicts the couple’s individual journeys, grappling with the love they still cherish while reconciling the love lost with the pain. It further illustrates how heart-wrenching conversations, sole reflections, and even gatherings with relatives can shape relationships. After We Collided reveals how relationships fracture, but also mend, if each individual is willing to improve.
Character Development
This sequel portrays Tessa to be more confident and independent. She is depicted with the most ideal character arc, which touches on childhood, and adulthood, and demonstrates how through reflection, self-discovery is possible. Tessa is now more goal oriented, and develops stronger bonds with family. Tessa’s character development is very positive, as it illustrates the ability to turn emotional drawdowns into sources of strength.
On the contrary, the amount of inner struggle Hardin Scott has to deal with is immense. He is concerned and baffled right after the separation, yet, with time, he is also the first to defy the first step and take a gif. Hardin’s transformational character is increasingly more open and, trying to make positive change not only in Tessa’s frame, but within himself as well, positive and sincere in his actions.
Dylan Sprouse portrays Trevor, a dependable and polite colleague who plays a significant role in Tessa’s life. In contrast to Hardin, Trevor embodies tranquility, stability, and emotional security. His character adds another layer to Tessa’s choices, pushing her to rethink her priorities in a relationship.
Other supporting characters, like friends and relatives, also help enrich the story, assisting Tessa and Hardin in making choices and facing the repercussions of those choices.
Themes
- Growth and Self-Discovery
After We Collided’s primary theme is personal development. Tessa and Hardin have to figure out who they are as individuals outside of the relationship in order to know what they want. The film also highlights the fact that love only thrives when the people in a relationship are ready to self-reflect and work on themselves.
- Forgetting and Making Amends
Within the context of the story, the act of forgiving is examined. Tessa and Hardin both fumble, but the film demonstrates that healing is within reach for both individuals if the truth is openly expressed. Forgiveness is depicted as a process, not a one-time choice.
- Emotional Communication
In any relationship, perhaps one of the most challenged abilities is communication. The movie suggests that emotional openness is something that takes time to develop. Tessa and Hardin, for instance, when they most learn to describe their feelings, begin to express themselves without any judgment, and begin the process of restoring the trust that had been lost.
- Soft-Touch Boundaries
Tessa’s case is the most prominent case that illustrates the struggle between autonomy and closeness. The film nurtures the growth of Tessa as a character who is able to stand on her own, and, at the same time, is able to deeply love someone. Her decisions tell a story that a relationship is meant to be enhancing, not eclipsing, one’s self.
Visual and Cinematic Elements
The film employs visual storytelling to show how emotional states of characters shift. Close-up shots and softer lighting demonstrate feelings of tenderness and vulnerability, while wide shots on the city and workspaces display blooming self-sufficiency and fresh undertakings of the characters.
The emotional score with the accompanying soundtrack highlights emotional work done during reflexive, tense and renewing moments within the film, shifting the palette from warm to cool, sync’d with the tone of the scene.
The story’s emotional development is expressed within the cinematography which, in turn, provides a visual aspect that augments themes sensitive to development, both self and in relations with others.
Final Thoughts
After We Collided goes beyond showcasing merely the highs and lows of romance. It also seeks to illustrate the difficulties of loving and accepting oneself simultaneously. Rather than falling into the trope of love being simplistic, it engages with the boundaries of rebuilding trust with love and the enduring desire to grow.
For those who appreciate character-driven stories, self-discovery, and emotional storytelling, the film is quite engaging and thoughtful. It makes the audience think about the After We Collided and the resolution. It is important to collaborate, exercise patience, empathize, and accept change to strengthen relationships. The film truly motivates self-reflection.
Many people will relate to the film because it explains how love, when nurtured and taught maturity, can survive through the toughest challenges.
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