Review #1,358: 'Letter to Brezhnev' (1985)

Written by Frank Clarke and directed by Chris Bernard, both Liverpudlians, Letter to Brezhnev tells its story in Thatcher-era Liverpool, where the only options in this grey city were the dole or dead-end factory jobs. It was a modest hit back in 1985, attracting international interest, but has since been oddly forgotten when compared to other social realist films from Britain around the same time. Those who do remember the film often refer to it as a romantic comedy, and it is of sorts, but Letter to Brezhnev is really more of a romantic drama, with some surprising political undercurrents. It's a very simple premise: two bored, fun-seeking young women hit the town and hook up with two dashing Russian sailors, with one couple falling deeply in love. But this relatable tale struck a chord with its fans, particularly for those who grew up during this particularly bleak time for Britain.

Boisterous blonde Teresa (Margi Clarke) earns her keep at a local factory, where she spends most of the day with her hand up a chicken's backside. She works hard during the day, so at night she seeks alcohol, men, and cheap thrills, including stealing the wallet of a potential partner and legging it. Her best friend Elaine (Alexandra Pigg) however, is looking for love, and feels something special when she catches the eye of handsome sailor Peter (Peter Firth). Peter is a Russian sailor who has docked for the night, and along with his friend Sergei (Alfred Molina), hopes for a taste of the famous Liverpool nightlife. Teresa takes an instant liking to Sergei's hulking physique, while Elaine and Peter form a deeper connection. After a wonderful night, the Russians sail back to the Soviet Union the next day. Elaine cannot get Peter out of her head, and with political tensions between Russia and Britain brewing, she writes a letter to Leonid Brezhnev, pleading for information on her lost love. She receives a plane ticket in return, but her family and the British government won't let her go without a fight.

Letter to Brezhnev was made on an incredibly tight budget, which Bernard often struggles to hide. The direction is flat and the camerawork occasionally amateurish, and the colour of the picture resembles the slightly degraded photographs of myself as a baby from the same year. Yet these restraints also increase the film's appeal as a time capsule, and anybody who enjoys seeing the Britain of the past on film as much as I do, will likely be fascinated. Although Firth and Molina receive top billing, somewhat unfairly, Letter to Brezhnev belong to the leading ladies. Clarke in particular finds multiple layers in what could have been a stock best friend character. She boasts having a "degree in men" and will never turn down a free drink, but there's a subtle sadness to her beaming smile and her acceptance of a life destined for routine. A pre-Prick Up Your Ears Alfred Molina also makes the most of a relatively small role that only requires a few mumbled lines in Russian, and he has the uncanny ability of saying as much with his eyes as he could with words. Funny and touching (and also a secret gay movie), Letter to Brezhnev is a beautiful story of love during times of hardship.


Directed by: Chris Bernard
Starring: Alexandra Pigg, Margi Clarke, Peter Firth, Alfred Molina
Country: UK

Rating: ****

Tom Gillespie