Tropic Sprockets / All of Us Strangers

By Ian Brockway

“All of Us Strangers” by Andrew Haigh is a genre-bending relationship study of two people in love against all conventions and even at times against themselves. It is eerie, haunting, suspenseful, and absolutely absorbing. It is arguably one of the most affecting dramas in recent cinema.

Adam (Andrew Scott) lives somewhat reclusively in London. By chance he meets Harry (Paul Mescal), a scruffy outlier. Adam is put off by Harry’s assertiveness, but he decides to give him attention, and the two become lovers.

Adam tries ketamine at a gay club. He begins to visit his mother (Claire Foy) and his mild-mannered father (Jamie Bell). Those who pay attention of course will know something is wrong from the get-go as it appears that Adam’s parents are the same age as Adam. It becomes evident that Adam’s mother and father have not been in touch since Adam’s childhood. Mom in particular is thrilled beyond words. Adam then divulges in conversation that he is gay.

Adam’s mother is stunned, and her attitude quickly changes. She becomes calcified and reticent, turning to stone right before our eyes.

Adam is shocked in turn and is uncomprehending.

Adam has internalized his parental tensions and rejection and has decided in many ways to close himself off from socialization and many relationships. Adam yells out at times. and it becomes clear that he suffers from PTSD.

Harry remains patient and loving. He, too, battles rejections, parental conflict and crushing feelings of otherness.

Adam discovers a way to visit his estranged parents quickly and with ease and engage them in conversation, and intimate talks that he has missed out on. Red or blue filters and sudden warm splashes of light are the only extra clues that something unusual is occurring and Adam uses the high-speed monorail travel more than Joe Biden or Keanu Reeves.

By the last third of the film, Adam’s empathetic and kindly face is a mass of tears. Each time Adam connects with his parents, he craves more. This craving comes upon Adam with the urgency of an addiction. Every meeting conjures more questions and more heartache, but also increasing warmth and intimacy.

The latter scenes in particular will hit upon you with a sly and stirring poignance. In some ways, this film is an intimate and risqué Twilight Zone story, yet it also functions as an evocative time capsule of the 1980s pointing to the magic of Christmas.

Impactful and curious as a portrait of emotions, as well as its characters, “All of Us Strangers” will keep you guessing until the last splinter of light.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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