All of Us Strangers (2023)★ 7.7/10

The cinematography is exquisite, with dreamlike encounters and the shifts between reality and fantasy serving as the bridge between memory and lived experiences. While sometimes cliché, there's an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the disconnect between the concept of "traditional family" and the lives of LGBTQ individuals in adulthood, though it unfortunately regresses into a collective expression of the grievances of growing up and a vague interpretation of "love." Nevertheless, it's still offers a delicate, introspective look into the "journey of the soul."

Much like Aftersun or Introduction, this film encapsulates both the beauty of dreams and the restless nights. The writer's identity is introduced in the opening scenes, and it becomes increasingly difficult to discern reality from fantasy in each frame. Haigh adeptly captures the underlying loneliness and existential questions of modern, even post-pandemic, human existence. It transcends identity and family history—no matter how we identify ourselves, we're all strangers, lonely stars in the sky.

The film is a devastating look at one man's loneliness. Andrew Scott is giving a brilliant performance. With a simple facial expression, he can tell an entire story. He is one of the best actors around. Claire Foy is wonderful and radiant. Jamie Bell has less to do but is very effective in his scenes with Scott. Paul Mescal is excellent- when you can understand him! His first scene when Harry comes knocking on Adam's door needs subtitles! The powerful ending is simultaneously chilling, frightening, and heartbreaking. There's a couple of ways to look at it. But I leave that for the viewer to determine. Do not miss!

I'd give it an 8.2 out of 10. The narrative tricks are really effective, gradually evolving from the actual ghost and the floating lover to... Even though the ending was predictable, it still caught me off guard. It portrays the unhealable pain of life in an evasive manner, along with the loneliness and indifference in the urban setting (although the scenery aspect is a bit lacking). At the same time, it continues to seek a possible resolution through some unspoken stuff such as fantasy and writing. However, personally, it seems to risk becoming overly sentimental.

This is the most tender LGBTQ+ film I've seen this year, and the one most likely to bring tears to my eyes. But the essence of the movie isn't solely about the LGBTQ+ community; rather, "love" is the central theme, the one thing that transcends life and death, the otherworldly and thisworldly, the past and present, and sexual orientation. Seeing the main character reconciling with his father across time and space truly struck me in the feels. I can't help but wish for an opportunity to have an open and heartfelt conversation with my own father, even if it's just a wordless embrace.

Fans of "Weekend" will definitely find this one enjoyable. The familiar camera language is further emphasized here, making the audience feel so close to the actors that it's as if one could feel the actors breathing. The cinematography is breathtaking. What sets this movie apart from "Weekend" is the frequent use of wide shots without dialogue, so full of life yet also conveying a sense of loneliness. As Andrew Haigh's techniques mature, he effortlessly portrays a love story; the exploration of family relationships not only fills the gaps left by "Weekend" but also raises the entire story to the next level — love is not just a passing moment in life, it's also the meaning of being alive.

I have gripes about the cheesy storyline, but it vividly portrays pain and the lighting used in the film is also truly mesmerizing in the dark theater. “…but the loneliness exists before that. It has been a long thing; as I grow up, it...solidifies”. I've been grappling with an indescribable, unexplainable sense of emptiness and fear that I've never truly acknowledged for a long time, whether it's related to my past or my connections with others— “It is not about me being gay”. It turns out there are indeed people who can empathize. Well, for the umpteenth time, I realize I can’t say no to this kind of independent film.

This movie is going to be my favorite queer film. Instead of simply focusing on the character's sexual orientation, it's really a story about a man coming to terms with his past and rediscovering himself and the world. That itself really touched me. The director solely relies on lighting to allude to the characters' fates and relationships, hence the lighting in each scene plays a crucial role. The plot is also very well-structured, making each twist and turn deeply resonate with the audience.

The cinematography is gorgeous, but its efforts to evoke emotion end up feeling a bit cliché. The film does attempt to explore the gap between the idea of a "traditional family" and the experiences of LGBTQ+ adults, but it ends up focusing more on their struggles growing up and a generalized view of “love" instead. Thankfully, it does offer a sensitive, introspective look at the "spiritual journey”, portraying the internalized loneliness with subtlety.

It's kinda disappointing. The surreal plot and the overly suggestive soundtrack make the film even more clichéd, and the simplistic story and the lead actor's performance only worsen things. The meaningless plot twist at the end is meaningless. What a waste of the strong performances from the supporting cast!

Não pegou no meu âmago por falta de compatibilidade de vivencia, mas é triste e bonito, melancólico e delicado, sem duvidas.

La cinematografía es exquisita, con encuentros oníricos y los cambios entre la realidad y la fantasía sirven como puente entre la memoria y las experiencias vividas. Aunque a veces resulta trillado, hay una oportunidad para una comprensión más profunda de la desconexión entre el concepto de familia tradicional y las vidas de las personas LGBTQ en la adultez, aunque regresa a una expresión colectiva de los agravios de crecer y una interpretación vaga del amor. Sin embargo, aún ofrece una mirada delicada e introspectiva al viaje del alma.