A review of the new film “All Of Us Strangers”
Adam (Andrew Scott) and Harry (Paul Mescal) appear to be the only occupants of a new London tower block and, hesitantly at first, become lovers. But both, in their different ways, are troubled individuals. Adam wants to reconnect with the parents he lost in a car accident 30 years ago and, finds that when he visits what used to be the family home, his father (Jamie Bell) and mother (Claire Foy) are there and the three of them are ready to talk in ways that they were unable to do in the past.
This is clearly a deeply personal film for writer and director Andrew Haigh and lead actor Andrew Scott, both of whom are gay men, and the semi-autobiographical nature of the narrative is underlined by the use of Haigh’s real childhood home, just outside Croydon, being used as the location of scenes in the home of Adam’s parents. The direction is assured and the acting achingly powerful in a film that packs an emotional punch as it explores universal themes about the need to love and be loved.
It is a slow work and I wasn’t always sure exactly what was going on, but critics have raved and awards will flow.