YNOT at the Movies

The British writer-director Andrew Haigh is known for creating mesmerizing yet low-key characters in his critically acclaimed films such as "Weekend" (2011) and "Lean on Pete" (2017). In his latest emotionally charged film "All of Us Strangers" (UK/USA 2023 | 105 min.), he masterfully crafts a deeply affecting and heart-wrenching story about a gay man's grief, love, longing, and loneliness. The film is based on Taichi Yamada's ghost story Strangers (異人たちとの夏, 1987), but Andrew Haigh removed the ghost element from the story and changed its protagonist to a gay man who communicates with his dead parents while developing a romantic relationship with someone he recently met.

That gay man is a screen-writer Adam (Andrew Scott) who is currently suffering a writer's block. He lives alone in a newly-built high-rise apartment building in London that is almost empty, except for another lonely tenant Harry (Paul Mescal) on the 6th floor. The two gay men conveniently become romantically involved.

Adam tells Harry that he lost his parents in a car accident right before he turned twelve. Going through his old photos, he wonders what his old house in the London suburb Croydon is like now. He gets on a train and pays a visit. Surprisingly, he meets his dad (Jamie Bell), who leads him back home and Adam is reunited with his mom (Claire Foy), and both of his parents are still at the age as Adam last remembers them when he was twelve.

Seizing the opportunity to reconnect with his parents, Adam reveals his sexuality to them and reflects on the memories they had when he was a child. It's both bittersweet and incredibly poignant as they exchange longing, understanding, love, regret, guilt, and hope. Adam's relationship with Harry also blossoms and they find comfort in each other and the loneliness they suffer gives way to joy and happiness.

But how long can all these surreal happenings last?

The director Andrew Haigh seamlessly assembles the story like it is repeatedly going in and out of a dream, with remarkably low-key demeanor in these characters, but high in emotion. The often-used close-up cinematography enhances the intimacy among the film's characters, and also with the viewers. He brilliantly uses the surreal setup to convey Adam's sorrow, loneliness, and his longing for the chance to tell his story to his late parents. For many it's a scenario of "what if you have a second chance to tell your late parents about yourself," and he makes that what-if happen for Adam.

Andrew Scott is absolutely fantastic in portraying the vulnerable and sensitive Adam, whose experience can be resonated by many viewers, gay or straight. Although there are only four speaking characters in the film, their terrific ensemble performance will touch you profoundly.

"All of Us Strangers" opens in the San Francisco Bay Area on Monday, December 25, 2023.