We Are All Strangers Review (2026 Toronto Film Festival)
At some point in our lives, the people we know as friends, family, or colleagues were once strangers. They were individuals with whom we had no connection until a conversation sparked a relationship. For many people, however, we remain little more than spectres in their everyday lives, simply present figures who occupy the world around them. We Are All Strangers, the latest film by Anthony Chen, explores how three families, who were once complete strangers to one another, become connected through a series of events and are ultimately forced to become a family. Even with a runtime of 2 hours and 37 minutes, it remains an enthralling watch
The film focuses on three families, each from very different economic backgrounds. One family consists of an immigrant, Bee Hwa (Yeo Yann Yann), living in the same bedroom as her five-year-old nephew. Another is a father, Boon Kiat (Andi Lim), and his son, Junyang (Koh Jia Ler), with the father living paycheque to paycheque to keep a roof over their heads while his son completes his mandatory military service. The third is a wealthy teenager, Lydia (Regene Lim), who, in theory, never has to worry about money. All three families are brought together after a shocking turn of events. To go into detail about this event would ruin the magic of the film.
That magic keeps you enthralled for the film’s entire runtime. Despite being over 2 hours and 30 minutes long, when the credits rolled, I genuinely thought there was still another hour to go. Once all of the characters are established, the film truly elevates into something utterly captivating, making the time fly by. Every moment of love, tenderness, and hostility feels perfectly realised.
Throughout, there is a level of authenticity that is rarely captured in dramas, especially those centred on found families like this one. While the film heavily relies on one character to spawn the drama, what it leads to is captivating. In addition, too often, hateful family figures are eventually revealed to be secretly kind. Here, however, when a certain character disappears, it makes you wonder whether that is what life is like when families no longer see eye to eye: people simply cease to exist in each other’s lives.
How the film captures these lives is absolutely breathtaking. The camera is constantly dynamic, moving with elegance and grace, but when the film slows down, it also finds beauty in life’s simplest moments. A bus journey might seem like a cheap date, but in this film, it becomes one of the most tantalising and visually stunning sequences. The cinematography transforms an otherwise ordinary scene into something truly remarkable. What also makes that scene work so well is the majestic score that plays, transcending each scene that it features in, from the opening frames to the bus scene in question.
The date scene also perfectly showcases the film’s immaculate performances. Yeo Yann Yann and Andi Lim are extraordinary, and watching their relationship blossom over the course of the story is nothing short of magical. Regene Lim and Koh Jia Ler are equally fantastic. Junyang and Lydia form the backbone of the film, and seeing their dynamics and roles evolve throughout is genuinely wonderful.
We Are All Strangers is a great and truly magical film that utilises every second to tell its story. With strong performances, incredible cinematography, and an immaculate score, the film is absolutely wonderful.
★★★★
Had its North American Preimere at the 2026 Toronto Film Festival / Yeo Yann Yann, Koh Jia Ler, Andi Lim, Regene Lim / Dir: Anthony Chen
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