The major vibe is distress on a journey of loneliness in this film. All of Us Strangers takes a deep dive into the core of finding where to fulfill disconnect. It is a portrait of sadness and finding light while dealing with the harsh reality of life as a screenwriter. The film is about the creative process of a screenwriter and is also process for its audience. It causes viewers to think about personal challenges, issues of acceptance, and how others view them. Written and directed by Andrew Haigh, All of Us Strangers is a film about the ups and downs in the life of a screenwriter who is stuck with both heartache and desolation.

The film opens with the screenwriter named Adam (played by Andrew Scott). Adam lives his life of mental suffrage in anapartment in London but has a secret. He is a closeted gay. Adam meets his neighbor Harry (played by Paul Mescal) who helps Adam change how he sees himself. Harry is also gay, and they begin to form a loving relationship. Closeness is what both Adam and Harry have been most deprived of. Adam searches for answers in different places and struggles with writer’s block. Harry’s mum is played by Claire Foy and his dad is played by Jamie Bell. Given Adam’s life of secrecy about his sexuality, his harsh memories frequently come to mind when spending time with Adam and his parents. The search for acceptance while navigating life’s challenges is the focus of the artistic journey in All of Us Strangers.

The relationship between Adam and Paul is where the film excels in displaying the impact of love. Mescal and Scott are brilliant in terms of their chemistry as they fight despair and find hope. Adam struggles to accept his true feelings for Paul and himself because he questions how his parents will feel about it. Adam’s parents find themselves confused and distraught about trying to accept their son’s sexuality. Their delayed acceptance causes Adam to revisit his haunting childhood. In fact, he feels like reality is against him throughout the story and the way the film presents his feelings is mesmerizing.

All of Us Strangers is a set in a society where being gay is questioned. The love between Adam and Harry is deep and their endearing love story is about finding what it takes to be fulfilled. The experience portrayed through the film’s writing and lighting is both hard and real. The harshness of Adam’s parents withtheir ridiculous expectations is why he struggles to have faith in himself. Harry is the only one that helps him have faith. There is more positive energy in Adam’s life when he is in Harry’s company and their relationship is their wonderland. Adam’s escape from Harry leads to choices that are harmful at times, but that’s because of the strength of their bond. Can Adam live a life of happiness without Harry?

The brilliance of All of Us Strangers lies in its presentation of Adam’s life of turmoil. The reality of Adam’s closeted secret is his nightmare. The audience gets to experience what’s on the mind of this screenwriter with an unexpected story. During the film, I felt the pain in Adam’s eyes as he faced regret and neglect. The continued frustration with his parents impacts his ability to enjoy his life with Harry. Why do Adam’s parents struggle to accept that their son is gay? Adam cannot help butwhat his heart wants. Nothing is more powerful than knowing there are people who care. The experience of disconnection and love in this film created a daring experience that left me in tears. Four out of four stars for All of Us Strangers.