Adam (Andrew Scott) is a screenwriter who is attempting to write about his parents who died in a car crash when he was twelve. As a source of inspiration he gets the train to visit his childhood home only to find his parents there ready to welcome him in. At the same time as this impossible situation is playing out Adam meets Harry (Paul Mescal) and begins a tentative relationship. 

Adam personifies loneliness. Profoundly impacted by the death of his parents, loneliness has been with him his entire life. He lives in a brand new tower block that is all but empty. When he evacuates for a fire alarm one evening he crosses eyes with Harry. Later Harry knocks on his door with an offer of whisky and companionship. Adam unready for it at that moment rejects him but later will strike up a relationship with him. Thanks in the main to the wellbeing he has started to feel from meeting his parents. His mum (Claire Foy) and dad (Jamie Bell) are frozen in time in the mid-80’s just before they died. All of them know this is peculiar but refuse to question something that allows them to learn about their grown up son and give him the love that he yearns for. 

His mum and dad openly discuss with him their shortcomings as parents and the things they wished for him. They talk of how proud they are of him and make him feel loved. Meanwhile Harry offers him the same compassion. They share stories of their childhood and provide each other the emotional needs they have missed their whole lives. Two lonely men finding each other in a time of need. 

All Of Us Strangers is about companionship, family and most of all love. It is heartbreaking and beautiful and I openly sobbed throughout the movie. When you find something profound as love you should hold onto it because there is nothing more life changing. 

The film plays out like a fever dream and is perfectly vague about what is literally happening. I have a very distinct opinion that I formed as the film ends with a spiritual and cosmic ending. Pinning you in your seat as “The Power Of Love” by Frankie Goes To Hollywood plays over the denouement. 

Written and directed by Andrew Haigh from a novel by Taichi Yamada, Haigh manages to encapsulate and convey loneliness and love in an incredibly powerful manner. His cast are stunning. Andrew Scott has never been better as Adam. Broken and lonely he is a man who has learnt to live with pain. To watch that slowly unravel for him is a cathartic experience. Paul Mescal is equally good. His performance of a lonely man reminded me of his stunning Oscar nominated performance in Aftersun. Whilst Jamie Bell and Claire Foy are perfect as the 1980’s parents talking to their middle aged gay son. Foy’s scene that features “Always On My Mind” by Pet Shop Boys will vie with many others for the most heartbreaking of the film. 

And the ending blew me away. 

Devastating. Heart breaking. Wonderful.