Renowned writer-director Andrew Haigh is gearing up to unveil the undeniable on-screen chemistry between actors Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott in their upcoming LGBTQ romantic drama, ‘All of Us Strangers’. This cinematic endeavor takes inspiration from Taichi Yamada’s 1987 Japanese novel ‘Strangers’, and delves into the supernatural as it follows the life of Adam (Andrew Scott), a 40-something screenwriter. His mundane existence in a London tower block takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with his neighbor, Harry (Paul Mescal), punctuating the rhythm of his everyday life.
As the two characters embark on a delicate romance, the narrative takes a mystical twist when Adam visits his childhood home and encounters the apparitions of his deceased parents, portrayed by Claire Foy and Jamie Bell. This ethereal experience becomes a conduit for Adam to finally come out to his parents and embrace his true self, marking a significant moment of self-acceptance.
Haigh, known for his previous work on the queer classic ‘Weekend’ and HBO’s ‘Looking’, expressed how Mescal and Scott’s chemistry was palpable from their very first interaction. “There was chemistry between the two of them literally the second I saw them together,” Haigh noted. This fearlessness and genuine connection allowed the actors to approach even the most intimate scenes with authenticity and depth.
Intriguingly, Haigh’s approach to filming the intimate moments in ‘All of Us Strangers’ diverges from his previous work. He aimed to capture the subjective nature of physical intimacy, emphasizing the emotions, sensations, and vulnerabilities that come with it. He shared, “I really wanted to feel the subjective nature of having sex and what it feels like – the nervousness and the excitement and the physical sensation of being touched by someone else, and what that does to you.”
Furthermore, the film’s authenticity is underscored by Andrew Scott’s portrayal of Adam, a gay character coming out to his parents. Haigh explained that casting Scott, a gay actor, added an extra layer of depth to the role, enabling nuanced exploration of a particular generation’s experiences and conversations.
As ‘All of Us Strangers’ navigates themes of queer intimacy, club culture, and self-acceptance, Haigh acknowledges that he draws from his own experiences as a gay man. The director candidly stated, “I make no bones about the fact that this is a specific experience I’m telling, of a man in his late 40s who’s gay. I’m trying to tell something that I understand, that is my experience of the world, and that is authentic to me.”
In a world where authentic LGBTQ representation remains a priority, ‘All of Us Strangers’ stands as a testament to the power of genuine chemistry and the exploration of diverse narratives. The film is set to premiere at the 2023 New York Film Festival before its release in US cinemas on December 22, 2023, promising an introspective journey into the complexities of love, identity, and acceptance.