All Of Us Strangers tells the story of two complete strangers residing within the same building. One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam (Andrew Scott) has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbour Harry (Paul Mescal), which punctures the rhythm of his everyday life. As a relationship develops between them, Adam is preoccupied with memories of the past and finds himself drawn back to the suburban town where he grew up, and the childhood home where his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell), appear to be living, just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before. 

SNAPSHOT REVIEW

The film opens with Adam watching a Frankie Goes To Hollywood video, a reflection back to the 1980s, and the beginning of the back and forth travels through time that are depicted throughout the story. Jump to current day and Adam receives a knock at the door from Harry, who out rightly assumes Adam is gay, and proposes they become close friends, and neighbours. As the plot line unfolds, it becomes clearer what is happening as Adam continually reflects back on his early childhood days, discovering what was, and perhaps what could have been. It’s one of those slower paced real-life character driven movies that works wonderfully, with strong performances by the two main leads. It’s an excellent depiction of queerness, without being overtly queer.

Available from Searchlight Pictures

The film is inspired by the novel Strangers by venerable Japanese author Taichi Yamada. First penned in 1987 and translated into English in 2003, Haigh’s adapted screenplay gives it a contemporary and personal touch.

Director/Screenwriter: Andrew Haigh (Lean on Pete, 45 Years, Weekend)

Production: Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin, Sarah Harvey

Cast: Andrew Scott, Paul Mescal, Jamie Bell, Claire Foy

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.