Netflix’s latest short film, The After brings a beautiful portrayal of grief and tragedy, along with the message that life has to go on. Directed by Misan Harriman, the short film stars David Oyelowo, Jessica Plummer, Sule Rimi, Izuka Hoyle, Ellen Francis, Alan Williams, and Tara-Binta Collins, alongside other cast members.
The After tells the story of a rideshare driver who, after having experienced a life-changing tragedy, turns to disconnect himself from people. However, the passengers he picks up remind him of the life he once had; one such is someone who helps him finally confront his suppressed emotions.
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The After Ending Explained
Towards the end of the film, Dayo wishes his daughter’s picture a happy birthday, wishing that she got to see more days in life. Later, he arrives at the airport to pick up his passengers, who are a family of three, just like his own in the past.
He takes them home, but on the way, he notices how the couple keep fighting over little things while their daughter sits in the middle in silence, sadness reflecting in her eyes. Similarly, she too notices the grief hidden in his eyes as he remembers his daughter, whose birthday is today.
Dayo struggles not to meddle in the couple’s affairs, however, he cannot overlook the girl’s sadness and hopes that she doesn’t have to witness these fights for long. Hoping she finds happiness in his life, his grief that hasn’t stopped since the day of the incident where he lost his wife and daughter continues.
Finally, they reach their destination but the couple continue their argument on the porch while their daughter stays behind in the car, unwilling to go inside. Dayo drops off the luggage near the gate and tells the little girl that she should go inside while trying to ignore the loud voices of her parents.
Though unwilling, the girl understands that she needs to leave and heads to the gate but standing in front of a house filled with her parents’ loud voices and Dayo whose sadness feels like her own, she rushes to Dayo. She gives him a hug from the back which startles her parents and Dayo, but while the couple exclaim to get her away from him, Dayo finally gives in to his withheld grief.
He finally breaks down and kneels in pain while the little girl is taken inside the house by her parents. Meanwhile, Dayo is finally able to confront his suppressed feelings and begins to cry out for his lost wife and daughter. The incident where innocent lives were lost and brought immense pain for him is remembered, and the grief it brought is not lost, but it has been eased to some extent.
The simple hug from the little girl reminded him that there was someone looking out for him as well; after all, having dropped so many passengers to their destination, she was the only one who actually saw his pain. Now, after his pain has eased at last, he once again gets up and continues to live his life in the memory of his lost family.
He once again gets inside his car to pick up another passenger who needs to reach their destination.
Watch The After on Netflix.
Also Read: The After Review: Suppressed Emotions and a Life That Goes On