Andrew Roberts

The Canadian film industry was founded on documentaries. Early 20th-century Canadian “home movies” toured the nation’s vast landscapes and were used to promote topics of martial interest including immigration. While it was neat to confirm that “yes, it does get cold and snow over here,” there was no intention to sensationalize Canada’s qualities. South of the border, the US was creating heroes and building myths through films such as The Great Train Robbery.

In Anthony Chen’s fifth feature film, he returns to his native Singapore to complete a trilogy of films dubbed the “Growing Up” series. Over 14 years, each instalment shows the actors and director maturing in technique and in their interactions with one another. Notably, the two leads remain consistent. Yeo Yann Yann and Koh Jia Ler play mother and son in Ilo Ilo, then teacher and student in Wet Season, and are now stepmother and son in We Are All Strangers.

Parents Mihai (Sebastian Stan) and Lisbet (Renate Reinsve) Gheorghiu leave Romania after the passing of the Mihai’s grandparents to join the mother’s family in Norway. As Lisbet sends her four children (with a baby at home) to their first day of school, she is welcomed by some of the teachers who just happen to also be their neighbours. “In our community we’re all practically neighbours,” they say.