All of Us Strangers: A Poignant Drama of Relationships Past & Present (Criterion Blu-ray)

The Film:

When Andrew Haigh's "All of Us Strangers" premiered at Telluride last year, it was immediately met with glowing reviews that hailed it as one of the very best films of the year, with similar praise following as it made its way through the festival circuit. While The Academy shamefully opted to completely ignore the film, it did receive an impressive six BAFTA nominations that included Outstanding British Film, Director, Adapted Screenplay, Supporting Actor, and Supporting Actress. Later on, it seemed as though the film wasn't even going to get a physical release, but luckily the good folks at Criterion decided to induct it into their prestigious collection, which gives us the perfect excuse to revisit it and see where all of its incredible acclaim came from.

The film, adapted from Taichi Yamada's novel "Strangers," centers on Adam (Andrew Scott), a screenwriter who lives alone in an apartment building that hardly has any tenants. One night, his drunk neighbor Harry (Paul Mescal) stops by, wanting to join him for the night, but Adam declines the offer. As Adam gets into his work, he decides to visit his old childhood home, where he eventually comes into contact with his Mom (Claire Foy) and Dad (Jamie Bell), both of whom died in a car crash when he was 12. So begins a series of these visits in which he catches them up and delves into the past, while also striking up an intimate romance at home with Harry. We follow along as these relationships progress, with Adam looking to find some answers and acceptance along the way.

On its onset, "All of Us Strangers" may seem to be a little slow in its pacing, and I'll be the first to admit when a film's pacing is being a hindrance or if it's being a "slow burn," an approach that very rarely seems to work. However, in the case of Haigh's film, it somehow works remarkably well, setting up the tone and the characters perfectly before arriving at the true meat of its premise. That, of course, being the interactions between Adam and his parents, and all that's brought up in their various conversations together.

The first of these, as you might expect, is what you would call the more obvious conversation. They catch up, find out where Adam lives and what he's doing for work. It's basically what you'd expect anyone to talk about after not seeing each other for a while. However, when the film turns to one-on-one conversations between them, the discussion goes significantly deeper, tapping into topics like Adam's homosexuality, how attitudes have changed towards it, and how it's impacted Adam's life then and now. The different reactions from his parents are particularly fascinating to watch as they unfold in their talks, which are among the most mesmerizing scenes in the film, as are others in which they discuss the immediate aftermath of the accident.

Meanwhile, at home, he pursues his relationship with Harry, to whom he opens up about his private life, including his relationship with his parents and how it affected him. Likewise, Harry opens up to him about being the "black sheep" of his family, and how that was always the case even before he came out. Their personal discussion about their sexuality beautifully parallels the conversations Adam has with his parents on the topic, discussions that he's likely been wanting to have for a number of years, but had never been able to. The seeming ease with which he talks about it with them just goes to show that, not only has he been thinking of this for quite some time, but also just how important it is that he get the answers he's been wanting all these years.

All of this may make it seem like "All of Us Strangers" is a very "talky" film, and indeed it is a film about opening up to loved ones and talking about what's important to them, but the conversations are remarkably riveting thanks to Haigh's wonderful screenplay and the brilliant four-person ensemble that pours their heart & soul into these performances. It's the kind of film that slowly sneaks up on you, and then keeps you hooked with its emotional grip. It's a powerful tale that asks you to suspend your disbelief and just roll with what's happening, and for those that are able, you ultimately get treated to what is undoubtedly one of 2023's best cinematic achievements.

Video/Audio:

"All of Us Strangers" comes to Blu-ray in a 2.39:1, 1080p High Definition transfer of outstanding quality. This is a rather dark film throughout much of its duration, but the director-approved 4K digital master is perfectly sharp and clear for the entirety of its runtime. Likewise, the 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio and uncompressed stereo soundtracks are marvelous, giving you all of the dialogue and music in excellent quality. Overall, as always, Criterion has done a phenomenal job in both departments for the film's Blu-ray debut.

Special Features:

Andrew Haigh with Michael Koresky (27 Minutes)

Jamie D. Ramsay (25 Minutes)

Television Documentary (23 Minutes)

Roots of the Story (7 Minutes)

Building Adam's World (6 Minutes)

The Blu-ray comes with a great selection of featurettes, totaling about 90 minutes, that include interviews with the cast and crew (Haigh, Scott, Mescal, DP Jamie Ramsay, and more), as well as some behind the scenes looks at the making of the film. Each of them is easily recommendable for those looking to learn more about it.

Conclusion:

Andrew Haigh's "All of Us Strangers" is a wonderful, engrossing, poignant drama that asks viewers to be patient and suspend their disbelief as it unfolds its tale of a man looking to reconnect with his long-dead parents, while also opening himself up to an intimate relationship with a neighbor. Featuring a quartet of excellent performances from the ensemble and a thoughtful, emotionally-rich screenplay, it's one of last year's very best films, and is a remarkably easy recommendation to add to your Blu-ray library.

Score: 4.5/5

Now Available on Criterion Blu-ray.

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