Summary

All of Us Strangers is a haunting and visually breathtaking film that delves into themes of grief, loneliness, and the struggle to move on from loss. Andrew Scott delivers a moving and emotionally devastating performance as Adam, conveying torment and grief with grace and tenderness. The film skillfully explores Adam’s queer identity and the complexities of his relationships, providing closure mingled with pain and grief, while leaving viewers feeling less alone.

All of Us Strangers is brimming with emotion. It’s the kind of film that asks us to embrace the hardest conversations or the warmest of touches. The story is haunting, but lovingly carried out; it’s tender and heartbreaking, visually breathtaking and chilling. Written and directed by Andrew Haigh, All of Us Strangers, which is adapted from the novel by Taichi Yamada, often encapsulates all that can be said and all that remains unsaid. With a moving performance by Andrew Scott, the fantasy drama is compelling and captivating as it tackles grief, loneliness, and all that is lost to trauma and the inability to move on past loss.

Adam (Andrew Scott) is a gay screenwriter who’s trying to write his latest project about his parents. He spends most of his days and nights alone, but then he meets Harry (Paul Mescal), his neighbor in the apartment building, things change. Their first meeting is a bit awkward, but then Adam finds himself getting to know Harry, who is also quite lonely, and they build a relationship from there. But Adam is preoccupied with memories of his late mother and father (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell), who he’s begun visiting in the home where he grew up in the 80s.

Claire Foy and Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers

All of Us Strangers explores Adam’s queer identity in relation to his parents. To that end, the film faces some difficult revelations that affect Adam, but they’re handled so gently and thoughtfully that they’re less painful and more emotionally effective. The film is cleverly written, driven by layered, complex conversations that are stirring. Haigh is able to balance Adam’s trauma with the love he also received from his parents. It’s a rare feat considering many writers’ tendency to lean toward one extreme or the other. It’s a delicate line to walk, but Haigh does so with a tremendous amount of empathy and without steering focus away from Adam’s hang-ups.

Jamie Ramsay’s cinematography is exquisite, employing light to convey memory and what the mind convinces Adam he’s seeing. During intimate, emotional moments, Ramsay pushes in on the actors’ faces, allowing their expressions to convey the feelings their words cannot. Paired with the fantastic editing by Jonathan Alberts, which elevates every pivotal moment as we wonder what’s real and what’s imagined, the film becomes even more of a vulnerable exploration of loss, sadness and hope. More than anything, All of Us Strangers contends with the power of memory and the importance of laying yourself bare, even in the face of potential rejection, if it means being free to accept love and move forward.

Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers

Haigh’s script provides closure mingled with pain and grief. The dialogue is nuanced and powerful. I can’t imagine anyone walking away from the film having not been affected by the depth and compassion at its heart. There is so much to be said about regret and childhood trauma, about love and loss and loneliness, and Haigh manages to do so with ease, bringing these themes together in an exceptionally crafted film. At some point, however, the film does seem to go on longer after having made its point. Nevertheless, it doesn’t make the story any less satisfying or compelling.

Andrew Scott’s performance is especially moving. His portrayal of Adam is quiet, but his eyes speak volumes. Scott conveys the torment and the grief so gently; his performance is emotionally devastating, and I was moved to tears by the amount of grace and love and tenderness he pours into the role. Paul Mescal is also excellent in a supporting role, all longing looks and gentle smiles that don’t quite reach his eyes as Harry battles his own pain. Jamie Bell and Claire Foy are especially phenomenal, balancing the ache of seeing their son and the hurt that is layered in the truth they must face. Truly an extraordinary cast.

All of Us Strangers is contemplative, lingering in the discussions that propel the characters forward — be it in an attempt to move forward or be provided with closure. Haigh brings us into Adam’s world and, though he may feel like a stranger at first, the film, and its handling of heavy themes, has a way of making us feel a bit less alone by the end of it. Adam’s queer identity isn’t ignored, either; it’s a big part of the film, and central to the interactions with his parents. Details such as this elevate the film as it masterfully explores its subject, bringing us into the story as though falling into a warm embrace.

All of Us Strangers screened at the 2023 Middleburg Film Festival. The film will be released in theaters December 22. It’s 105 minutes long and rated R for some sexual content, language, and some drug use.