Writer/director Andrew Haigh's much-lauded drama is a wistful and restrained delight. Living in an almost-empty tower block on the edge of London, Andrew Scott as the isolated and haunted screenwriter Adam is consistently superb to watch, matched by Paul Mescal as his more forward neighbour Harry, with whom he forms a cautious relationship. Claire Foy and Jamie Ball are also great as Harry's parents whom he visits at his childhood home (filmed at Haigh's actual home from his youth), preserved as they were at the time of their death whilst their son is now an adult in a cleverly-realised conceit. Haigh juxtaposes (male) urban alienation and isolation with the burgeoning personal relationship through expert craft and direction, combining the intensity of emotions with an almost dream-like feel. Beautifully shot and played, this is clearly a very personal project for Haigh, but its themes of grief, resolving the past and the human need and capacity for love are universal and very affecting - the final half-hour in particular is exquisitely and devastatingly heart-breaking.
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