ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Two TV heartthrobs, Andrew Scott, the hot priest from "Fleabag," and Paul Mescal, who plays the conflicted romantic Connell in "Normal People," star in a new movie called "All Of Us Strangers." Critic Bob Mondello says the word that best describes the film for several reasons is haunting.
BOB MONDELLO, BYLINE: Adam is a screenwriter who lives in a massive, mostly vacant apartment building in London. He's working on a script about his parents, who died when he was 11 - if, by working, you mean watching TV and occasionally going outside when the fire alarm sounds.
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MONDELLO: One night when he does and looks up, there's only one other lit apartment in the whole building with a guy who stayed put. After the all-clear, there's a knock at Adam's door.
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PAUL MESCAL: (As Harry) Hello. I saw you looking at me from the street. I'm Harry. You drink?
MONDELLO: He motions to the bottle in his hand.
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MESCAL: (As Harry) It's meant to be the best in the world, but I couldn't tell you why, so...
ANDREW SCOTT: (As Adam) No, thanks.
MESCAL: (As Harry) Yeah, OK. OK, how about I come in anyway? - if not for a drink, then for whatever else you might want.
MONDELLO: Adam declines, but the ache of loneliness lingers. The next day, to research his script, he takes a train out to the suburb where he grew up and finds his old house and, as night falls, has an encounter with another man - only, this time, Adam's the one who's hoping to be invited in.
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JAMIE BELL: (As Dad) She's going to be over the moon to see you.
MONDELLO: And he is.
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BELL: (As Dad) Guess who I found loitering in the park?
CLAIRE FOY: (As Mum) Is it him?
BELL: (As Dad) Oh, yeah. It's definitely him. Look in his eyes.
FOY: (As Mum) Yes, it is you.
MONDELLO: It's his parents, who've not aged a day.
(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "ALL OF US STRANGERS")
SCOTT: (As Adam) Hi.
FOY: (As Mum) Hi. Don't just stand there. Get yourself inside.
MONDELLO: A ghost story of sorts about connection where it's least expected and after hope is all but gone - speaking of which, Adam returns to his apartment and meets up with Harry again, this time letting things go where they will...
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MESCAL: (As Harry) I'm assuming you're not with anyone - never see you with anyone.
MONDELLO: ...Physical intimacy leading to personal intimacy.
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MESCAL: (As Harry) Is this your mum and dad?
SCOTT: (As Adam) Yeah. They died just before I was 12. I'm trying to write about them at the moment.
MESCAL: (As Harry) How's it going?
SCOTT: (As Adam) Strangely.
MONDELLO: You might say that. Filmmaker Andrew Haigh has adapted a Japanese novel called "Strangers" in ways that let him explore family and distance in a personal way. How personal? The house Andrew visits when he sees his parents in the movie is the house the filmmaker grew up in.
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BELL: (As Dad) And I would hear you crying in your room after school. Did the boys bully you then?
MONDELLO: Haigh is telling a generous tale of injuries done glancingly and without intent - of parents being offered a second chance in their children's memory...
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BELL: (As Dad, crying) Sorry I never came in your room when you were crying.
SCOTT: (As Adam) Dad. Dad, I get it. It was so long - (crying) it was so long ago.
MONDELLO: ...And of comfort offered by those damaged children to each other in the present.
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MESCAL: (As Harry) I'm really sorry.
SCOTT: (As Adam) It was a long time ago.
MESCAL: (As Harry) I don't think that matters.
MONDELLO: Andrew Scott's tightly wound Adam, Paul Mescal's chill, but also wounded Harry, haunted by memories and self-doubt - two strangers finding comfort in each other as they struggle to reconcile the men they've become with the expectations they're still trying to set aside - the disconnect that makes all of us strangers to our pasts and that makes Andrew Haigh's "All Of Us Strangers" such a haunting meditation on how we can connect.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE POWER OF LOVE")
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD: (Singing) The power of love...
MONDELLO: I'm Bob Mondello.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THE POWER OF LOVE")
FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD: (Singing) ...A force from above, cleaning my soul. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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