Andrew Haigh paints a dreamlike picture in the emotional and beautiful All of Us Strangers. It is Haigh’s most emotional work to date exploring themes of love and loss through the lens of a quiet fantasy. Adam (Andrew Scott) and Harry (Paul Mescal) are the leading men who have a budding love, being the only two people living in a large London skyrise. The building is notably lonely and bare which seems to be something that Adam is used to since the death of his parents during his formative years. Harry provides solace for Adam as he explores what was lost during visits to his childhood home.
Andrew Scott firmly delivers one of the best performances of the year. He should get rewarded for this with a Best Actor nomination but that is looking unlikely during this stage of awards season. Scott gained popularity as the “Hot Priest” in Fleabag season two, which he was wonderful in. Scott’s performance is quiet, emotional, and nuanced it explores not only losing loved ones but the struggle with identity and sexuality as a gay man. His lost expression is a perfect representation of the solemn urban life he leads, aside from his visits with Harry and the ghosts of his parents, he is isolated. Adam is a muted contrast to Harry’s flamboyant enthusiasm, which perfectly matches Andrew Scott’s strengths, allowing him to shine in a more touching role.
Despite Mescal and Scott having wonderful chemistry as the two leads, Scott thoroughly outshined his colleague. Mescal displays all of his acting chops, but it seemed he was trying a bit too hard especially when acting drunk and flirting with Adam. The scenes in which Adam is reunited with his family are much more effective and tear-jerking than the exploration of his relationship with Harry. The dialogue between the lovers is often a bit predictable and their relationship is a weaker point of the film. Not entirely the fault of Mescal but more a function of the writing as some of their scenes together are more jarring and feel as if they are in a different movie.
The most gripping scenes in the film come when Adam is with his parents, played by Claire Foy and Jamie Bell. Each interaction between the three of them is oozing with nostalgia which hits close to home for many. Claire Foy in particular is exceptional in presenting the mid 80s mentality that the parents had. This is especially evident when talking about sexuality, which was a much different conversation four decades ago than it is today. Skeptical at first but eventually understanding, Haigh uses this conversation as an avenue to bring the trio closer together as the picture draws on. The final scene between Adam and his parents is perhaps the most impactful in the film as he pleads for them to stay, claiming painfully that he “deserved more time” and that “it hasn’t been long enough”.
All of Us Strangers is hopelessly sad and is guaranteed to make your heart break. Andrew Scott is the shining star of the movie and has an extremely bright future in Hollywood. Andrew Haigh is a close second as his minimalist approach to filmmaking has a special way of tugging on the heartstrings of his audience. The film may be cast aside when awards come around but should not be ignored as it is one that is all too relatable and not one that will be soon forgotten.
4/5 STARS