Ted’s review published on Letterboxd:
"They say it's a very lonely life."
All of Us Strangers was my fourth film for this year’s LFF, and what a heartbreaking and mesmerising film it is.
It seemed at first the film was trying to to tackle so much within its 105-minute runtime, but everything was handled with maturity and compassion that it never feels jarring or bloated. It was grounded yet surreal. I was aware the surrealism could get messy, but it didn’t. It served as a crushing metaphor that was executed appropriately and effectively. Sometimes the symbolism in the fantasy sequences lacked a little in subtlety, but the quality of everything else made that seem like nothing worth mentioning.
The themes of grief and regret flow throughout the plot, contrasting with the blossoming romance between Adam and Harry. Their relationship is intimately portrayed, making every scene with them feel so private and intrusive. The love that floods those scenes is reflected in the scenes with Adam and his parents. Andrew Haigh perfectly captures the warmth of family life, in all its Britishness. The homely feel of the household makes the poignant moments hurt so much more.
The acting is excellent. Claire Foy gives a moving performance as the mother, and Jamie Bell matches with his portrayal of the regretful father.
Paul Mescal’s performance was incredibly moving, showing a full understanding of the intimacy the film delivers. His soft, warm interpretation of the character plays against Andrew Scott’s sensitive performance beautifully.
Talking of Andrew Scott… wow. He takes everything from his acting arsenal and utilises it phenomenally, creating such a fragile portrayal that, in my opinion, deserves immense recognition. From his sensitive delivery to those heart-aching glimpses of comfort on his face, his performance left me bewitched. The consensus is that Cillian Murphy has the best actor awards in the bag, but even if he does, Andrew Scott gives the best performance of the year in my eyes.
It’s a heartbreaking film, that broke me with one of the most mesmerising final shots I’ve ever seen, narrated by a perfectly picked song. I can’t wait to see it again.
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