All of Us Strangers (2023)
Part of the London Film Festival’s Gala screenings was Andrew Haigh’s All of Us Strangers. Following his most recent work of The North Water, Haigh directs this stunning and unnerving adaptation of Taichi Yamada’s novel Strangers. The film follows Adam (Andrew Scott), a screenwriter who lives in a silent London flat. One night his neighbour Harry (Paul Mescal) strikes up a conversation which leads towards something more intimate than he would have expected. As the two men get closer, Adam gets pulled back to his childhood home where he finds his parents living and looking the same age as the day they died over 30 years ago. Harry’s presence in Adam’s life causes him to question what has changed and whether it is detrimental. He must also work his way through past trauma and loss.
Right away, audiences can see that Haigh designs and directs the film to bring the unsettling element into it. Haigh’s direction and shot choice helps the momentum of the film. Andrew Scott’s performance is central to the film’s story and perfection. His character is disturbed from the very beginning. Through facial expressions and emotions, the audience can see that Adam’s past is darker than one might have originally been led to believe.
With such a small cast, performances are key to the film’s success. Casting was chosen beautifully with a sublime performance from Paul Mescal. As well as extremely emotional performances from Jamie Bell and Claire Foy. As it is an essential part of the film’s plot, the chemistry between Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal is absolutely perfect. The two actors complement each other quite well and were clearly invested in their roles. As for Jamie Bell and Claire Foy, the emotion needed for their scenes was conveyed and then some. A beautiful and strong cast for a heart wrenching film.
The composition of the film is so simple but simple in the way that it works with the strangeness and empathy the film evokes. Every shot was framed to perfection. And the sequences, my god the sequences. There are two very specific ones that stick with me, and [spoilers ahead] they will for the rest of my life. The sequence in the bar after taking ketamine, the editing between shots allows the audience to feel the effects the characters are feeling. Then with the final scene of the film, Haigh’s choice to summarize life as the stories children were told about becoming stars when we die, absolutely broke my heart.
Every aspect of this film is absolutely superb. With every moment your heart is beating. You hold your breath directly until that last scene and then the end wraps up the film in the most touching way possible. Make sure you see All of Us Strangers in cinemas when it is released January 2024.
Photo credits to IMDb.
