We Strangers Review: When One Lie Leads To Deeper Questions

Meet Ray Martin, a hardworking housekeeper in Gary, Indiana striving to make ends meet. Played with warmth and nuance by Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Ray takes pride in her work even if it doesn’t always feel fulfilling. But when a new job takes her into uncharted territory, it sets off a story that resonates far beyond any single character.

Director Anu Valia makes her feature film debut with We Strangers, premiering it at the South by Southwest Film Festival in 2024. Right away you can see Valia’s keen eye, ushering us effortlessly into Ray’s world. As a commercial custodian cleaning downtown offices, Ray keeps her head down but takes quiet joy in any task. Things change however when one of her clients, therapist Dr. Neeraj Patel, offers her an unusual new role – caring for the spaces in his personal life.

Thus Ray finds herself maintaining not just Dr. Patel’s opulent home, but the residence of his neighbor Jean as well. Living on the fringes of their privileged circles opens Ray’s eyes to the complex social rules that sustain hierarchical systems. And as she observes those around her, Ray learns the power that small acts of deception can offer, for good or for ill.

What starts as a single, impulsive fib takes on a life of its own, drawing Ray deeper into weaving fantasies that challenge expectations while meeting needs. Valia’s directorial debut takes a thoughtful look at race, class, and the stories we craft to carve out control in a world not always of our own making. With empathy and insight, We Strangers explores the lies we tell, those told to us, and what truth may lie beneath it all.

The Unexpected Journey of a Housekeeper

Ray Martin had worked hard to build a stable life as a housekeeper in Gary, Indiana. But one job opens the door to a whole new world. When wealthy therapist Dr. Patel hires Ray to clean his office, she thinks it’s just another gig. Little does she know how much is about to change.

Dr. Patel is impressed by Ray’s work and asks her to tidy his palatial home as well. Then his mistress Jean enters the picture – Dr. Patel wants Ray to clean her place too. Juggling three jobs is a lot, but Ray can’t pass up the pay.

It’s at Jean’s house where things get interesting. Jean loves those shows about psychics and mediums, and she’s thrilled when Ray casually lies and says she has mystical talents too. Ray thinks it’s a harmless fib, but Jean is hooked. Before she knows it, Ray finds herself giving Jean private “readings” to keep the money flowing in.

As Ray weaves her web of magical tales, the lie grows more complex. She starts telling fortunes for Dr. Patel’s wife Tracy as well. And when Tracy’s daughter Sunny gets dragged into the act, Ray has to really stretch her imagination. Can she keep up the charade without it crashing down?

Meanwhile we see Ray has her own rich life outside of work. She lives with her mother Willie and spends time with close friend Mari. Ray clearly cares for her family deeply. But providing for them is a constant effort, so the extra jobs are hard to turn down.

With everything piling up, Ray finds herself pulled in many directions. How long can she juggle cleaning houses by day with playing mystic by night? And will the truth about her real abilities ever come to light? One way or another, Ray’s journey as an unlikely housekeeper-turned-medium is about to reach its climax.

Seeing Beyond the Surface

Anu Valia’s directorial style in We Strangers brings so much rich visual storytelling. Color is used in such an intentional way – it sets the tones and puts you right in each scene. Ray’s world at home glows with warmth, surrounded by deeper hues. But where she works, everything shines so icily sterile.

Repetition draws out themes too, like that family photo being cleaned over and over. It shows how Ray is almost part of the furniture to these people. Transitions flow with a dreamlike quality too, dissolving between Ray’s work routine and personal life. These gentle shifts highlight how her responsibilities blend together.

You also get real senses of the spaces Ray inhabits. Her home wraps you in coziness straight away. But those big, empty rooms where she cleans make a statement all on their own. They’re so vast yet leave her shrinking at the edge. Even the walls tell the story – filled with family photos where Ray lives, but covered in flags elsewhere like it’s a contest.

Valia lets the visuals convey so much without words too. Long takes allow Ray’s expressions to dance between emotions. We read the thoughts flickering across her face better than any exposition could say. And the camera placement puts us right there with her, noticing every detail as she does.

Every choice resonates with the film’s examination of what lies below what we let people see. We Strangers shines a light on reality through its mesmerizing images and smart directorial touches. It’s clear Valia wants viewers thinking far past surface level impressions.

Revealing the Deeper Societal Examinations

This film tackles some deep themes about navigating life as a minority. Ray finds herself cleaning homes where she sticks out, yet still strives to assimilate. Valia presents the daily grind – you keep your head down but inside it’s a constant balancing act.

Ray definitely craves more power in this role where she’s meant to fade into the background. But she’s no pushover – when an opportunity arises, watch how she takes the reins. Not that it’s all fun and games – juggling these lies brings their own pressures. At times it’s a lot to carry.

I appreciated how the director showed race and class divisions in a realistic way too. Ray has it harder as the only person of color, yet her clients aren’t über-wealthy either. They live in their own bubble and don’t always see beyond surface levels. Which is what leads Ray to bend the truth in the first place.

The film makes you ponder the lines between protecting yourself and outright escaping. Ray’s fabrications give her a thrill, but carrying them wears her down. And the cost of neglecting her real responsibilities really starts to show by the end. Sometimes we tell lies hoping they’ll solve problems, not realizing they just might create new ones.

Overall it stuck with me because of how thoughtfully it peeled back the layers. There’s no preaching – just letting the characters’ story shine a light on deeper issues many can relate to. The themes are so universal too. We’ve all had to navigate situations where we feel out of place at times.

Stealing the Show

Kirby Howell-Baptiste really carries this film. From the get-go you can see she understands Ray on a deep level. There’s a wisdom in her eyes, even when Ray’s keeping her guard up cleaning those fancy homes. You see the wheels always turning – she’s sizing people up, deciding how close to let them in.

And Kirby shows Ray’s softer side too, like during those moments at home. The care and struggle she has trying to balance it all. You can feel her exhaustion but also her fight. It’s no wonder she jumps at the chance to make more cash and have some fun fooling these clients!

It’s too bad the supporting roles didn’t get more to work with. Sarah Goldberg and Maria Dizzia are great, but their characters feel one-dimensional at times. I wished we got to know them better and see more layers, like with Kirby’s performance.

Still, this is Ray’s story and she really comes into her own. At first she’s all about keeping her head down and getting the job done. But watch how she blossoms the more power and confidence she gains deceiving those clients. Her eyes shine like I haven’t seen before. And by the end, she’s making big choices about what really matters in life.

I loved following Ray’s journey in this film. Kirby brings her to life in a way that keeps you thinking long after. She absolutely steals the show and proves herself as one of the most talented actors around today. I can’t wait to see what she takes on next.

Illuminating Moments

Let me tell you about a few really interesting scenes that stood out to me. The first is when we first meet Jean – she’s at the window just staring at Ray working in Dr. Patel’s home. Seems like she’s caught off guard seeing another woman there. You can feel the tension right away. Really sets up the whole dynamic between these characters well.

Another big one is when Ray tells that little fib about being psychic. She’s just chatting with Jean and it kind of slips out, but you can see her perk up when Jean gets interested. Really shows how Ray is always studying people, looking for opportunities. And who can blame her – seems like she’s usually got people telling her what to do. This gives her a bit of power over Jean for once.

The last scene I really want to highlight is the party at Dr. Patel’s place. Everything’s been building up to this point and it’s really uncomfortable. You’ve got Ray trying to keep up the act as the relatives fire all these questions at her. And I loved how even the music gets more intense as she’s backed into a corner. Just brilliantly builds the tension. Really makes you feel for her character in that moment.

What I like is how these scenes together show Ray gaining confidence little by little. But also how her situation keeps getting more complicated. By the end she’s in way over her head. Really examines how one small choice can snowball if you’re not careful. The director did an amazing job ramping up the drama while keeping things very real. Some scenes really lit up the screen.

In the end I was totally immersed in Ray’s journey. These moments did a great job of pulling me in and peeling back the layers of her character and this unique world. Really impressive the way a few key scenes can make such a rich story feel so vivid.

Food for Thought

Well this was quite a movie, huh? Really made me think about a lot of issues we probably don’t always consider. Anu Valia did a masterful job using Ray’s story to shine a light on things like class, race, and what it means to have or not have power over your own life.

You gotta give so much credit to Kirby too. Her portrayal of Ray was just phenomenal – so full of nuance and layers. She really brought this character to life in a way that kept you engaged the whole time. You really felt for Ray’s struggle and got invested in her journey. Their collaboration was really something special for a directorial debut.

I think movies like this are so important for getting people to step outside themselves and look at things from a different perspective. By the end I was left with plenty to chew on. The themes Valia touched on aren’t going away anytime soon either. I could see plenty of lively debate springing up after viewers walk out of the theater.

Judging by the buzz at festivals so far, We Strangers seems primed to really take off when it gets a wider release. Audiences are hungry for thoughtful stories that leave them something to discuss. I wouldn’t be surprised if Valia’s career really takes off after such an impressive start. There’s definitely more great work ahead from her if this film is any indication.

All in all, I think this is the kind of movie that stays with you long after the credits roll. It left me with more than enough food for thought. I suspect many other viewers will be in the same boat.

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