Familial and adult love, grief, and loneliness are the moving themes told in this fantasy/drama based on a 1987 novel called Strangers by Japanese by Taichi Yamada.
It has been named one of the top ten independent films by the National Board of Review.
In a giant tower block which is largely uninhabited screen writer Adam (Andrew Scott; Fleabag’s hot priest), a single gay man in his 20s, who is lonely and alone. He is struggling to write about his past life with his parents, who died in a car accident when he was 12.
A drunken neighbour (Paul Mescal, Aftersun) knocks on his door, flirtingly offering whisky or something more. But he is rebuffed.
Sometime later Adam decides to look for his past in person and takes a train to the suburban London house where he used to live. There he mysteriously finds that he can spend time with his parents (played by Claire Foy and James Bell) who are at the same age as when they died in 1987.
They are able to discuss things that they were unable to talk about when he was a boy.
Over many visitsm their conversations reveal the many changes to legal and social attitudes to homosexuality. And when Harry knocks on his door again they begin a romantic and sexual relationship.
Cinematography is by James D Ramsay using 35mm film, and the dreamlike musical score is from the 80s.
Writer/director Andrew Haigh (45 Years, Lean on Pete) set this movie in his own childhood home where the four brilliant Irish actors became friends and said that they felt like a family during the making of the film.
Audiences will leave the cinema with appreciation of the actors, the sensitivity handled sex scenes, and the universal theme of love.
105 minutes.
Showing at Luna Leederville and Luna SX Fremantle.
Watch the trailer…
