Searchlight Pictures has a long history of producing thought-provoking and emotionally resonant films that delve into the complexities of the human condition. Their latest release, “All of Us Strangers,” a hauntingly poignant and hypnotic story of loss and love and everything in between. Directed by Andrew Haigh, this film offers a unique and deeply introspective look at the intricate web of human relationships, reminding us that, in the end, we are all strangers to someone.

One night in his near-empty tower block in contemporary London, Adam has a chance encounter with a mysterious neighbor Harry, which punctures the rhythm of his everyday life. As a relationship develops between them, Adam is preoccupied with memories of the past and finds himself drawn back to the suburban town where he grew up, and the childhood home where his parents appear to be living, just as they were on the day they died, 30 years before.

Photo by Chris Harris

Haigh has masterfully stuck to his word, transcending the tropes of a ‘ghost story’.  Here is what Haigh had to say about the film. “What I loved about the novel was its central conceit: what if you met your parents again long after they were gone, only now they’re the same age as you? It seemed such an emotional way to explore the nature of family. That became my starting point.  Adapting the book was a long and sometimes painful process,”

Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh

Haigh admits. “I wanted to pick away at my own past as Adam does in the film. I was interested in exploring the complexities of both familial and romantic love, but also the distinct experience of a specific generation of gay people growing up in the 80s. I wanted to move away from the traditional ghost story of the novel and find something more psychological, almost metaphysical. 

Photo by Chris Harris

“I was immediately blown away by the script,” says Scott, who plays the lead role of Adam.  “It’s incredibly personal to him [Haigh], but like great writers, he makes you feel like it’s personal to everybody, and I felt very attached to it.”

“It’s such a lovely concept,” continues Bell, who plays ‘Dad’. “There’s been other films that have dealt with the afterlife, or tricking audiences into thinking that people are alive when they’re not. Very successful versions of that have mostly been in an intense genre space. We don’t really see these movies in a dramatic space.”

Scott adds, “Andrew is one of those very rare people – he’s very likeable and a wonderful person, but also incredibly gifted at his job. We all found him to be very open and amenable. He’s really confident, and he knows what he wants, but he does that without ego. And he’s great fun.”

Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Scott’s co-star Mescal, who plays Harry, has long-admired Haigh. “He knows everything about the characters that he’s written. If we came to him with ideas, he’ll entertain them because he knows that what we do as actors is important, and I love that,” he explains. “I love how unsentimental he is with his style of direction, but he manages to hold onto the truth, which allows it to feel honest and moving.” As Foy, who plays ‘Mum’, puts it, “He is so unassuming. The least aggressive director you could ever find.”

Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

“All of Us Strangers” was written and directed by esteemed British filmmaker Andrew Haigh and is based on the novel “Strangers” by Taishi Yamada.  The film stars: Andrew Scott (Spectre, ‘Fleabag’), Paul Mescal (Aftersun, ‘Normal People’), Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot, Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool), Claire Foy (Women Talking, ‘The Crown’).