45. All Of Us Strangers; movie review

 

ALL OF US STRANGERS

Cert 15

106 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong sexual detail, sex, drug misuse, very strong language

"I bet everyone would like to go back and visit their old homes as they were in the past and the people around then."

Mrs W. has experienced terrible loss. Her dad died young, as did two of her sisters and her mum didn't live to an old age.

Thus, some elements of All Of Us Strangers resonated with her, especially the notion of seeing one's nearest and dearest again.

Going back in time doesn't have the same allure for me because my parents are still alive.

The film has also chimed loudly with gay people because of its stingingly accurate representation of the rejection and isolation associated with coming out.

However, not being gay and, fortunately, not having suffered the loss of anyone close before their time or ever having lived on my own, I didn't have a touch point with Andrew Haigh's movie.

Nevertheless, I could appreciate the performances of a high-calibre cast, especially Andrew Scott as Adam, the picture's main character.

Adam is a lonely, gay script-writer who lives in a London Tower Block where he is embarking on a screenplay about his parents (Jamie Bell and Claire Foy).

As part of his research, he visits his childhood home and is invited by his parents, who were killed when he was 12, to step back into the 1980s.

Thus, he tells them about his current life and mulls over the difficulties he had growing up with them.

While this otherworldly experience is happening, he begins a tumultuous relationship with another tower block resident (Paul Mescal).

The past and present combine to expose Adam's innermost thoughts and insecurities, many of which have been kept secret for decades.

A great tenderness develops between the lovers and a very different one between the grown-up son and his parents.

The film is played out to some great songs from the 1980s (Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Power Of Love is key).

Perhaps our anticipation for All Of Us Strangers was over-inflated by its acclaim but we found the mix of past and present perplexing.

And we were disappointed that the movie's ending added to our confusion.

The performances are great but the picture didn't enlighten us as much as we had anticipated. 

Reasons to watch: If you have come out as gay, have suffered loss or faced loneliness

Reasons to avoid: If none of the above applies

Laughs: None

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: None

Overall rating: 7/10.

Did you know? Andrew Haigh's childhood home served as the filming location for the house Adam finds his parents in.

The final word. Paul Mescal: "That was just the perfect climate to fall in love with Andrew (Scott) as a human being. It’s a very easy thing to do." Vogue

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