Andrew Haigh’s latest film is a towering achievement in his career, a poignant and emotionally rich exploration of love and loneliness. Set in a London high-rise apartment block, the film centers on Adam (Andrew Scott), a television screenwriter who lives alone in the newly occupied building. The only other tenant is Harry (Paul Mescal), who makes his presence known one night when he knocks on Adam’s door and suggests they get a drink. Adam initially resists, but it’s not long before they fall into each other’s arms. Both single and gay, they are alone and troubled in different ways. Adam is haunted by the death of his parents when he was a child, and Haigh takes a bold risk by having him revisit the suburban home where he grew up. There, he encounters his parents (Claire Foy and Jamie Bell) as ghosts, who are very much as he remembers them from the 1980s. At first, it seems like a joyous reunion, but Adam must gradually confront more uncomfortable topics, such as his sexuality and their mortality. Haigh deftly mines wry humor from the outdated ’80s attitudes expressed by Adam’s parents, and there are some sweet moments, such as the sight of Scott in child’s pajamas. But the film becomes increasingly devastating in the final act, as Adam grapples with the weight of his loss and the complexities of love and family. The soundtrack choice of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s ‘The Power of Love’ is particularly effective, becoming a haunting anthem for the film’s themes. While all eyes are on rising star Mescal, who once again delivers a captivating performance, it is Scott who truly shines in this film. He gives a commanding and emotionally rich performance that captures the raw vulnerability and longing of a man grappling with love, loss, and the search for connection.
Andrew Haigh’s Latest Drama Explores Love and Loneliness in Poignant Detail
