The Letter (1999)
A well-bred, lovely, spiritual, sad young woman marries an attentive physician who loves her. She feels affection but no love. Soon after, without design, she falls in love with Pedro Abrunhosa, a poet and performance artist. He also loves her. She keeps her distance from him, confessing her love to a friend who is a nun and, later, to her husband. Hunger for her love and jealousy consume him; she attends him as he wastes away. With his death, she can marry and express her passion, but what she does and how she explains herself, particularly to her cloistered friend, is at the heart of the film. Glimpses of convent life and of Abrunhosa on stage give contrast and mute comment.
Director: Manoel de Oliveira
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 107 min
Release Date: September 22, 1999
Cast
- Chiara Mastroianni - Mme de Clèves
- Pedro Abrunhosa - Pedro Abrunhosa
- Antoine Chappey - M. de Clèves
- Leonor Silveira - La religieuse
- Maria João Pires - Maria João Pires
- Luís Miguel Cintra - M. da Silva
- Stanislas Merhar - François de Guise
- Ricardo Trêpa - Intrus
- Anny Romand - Mme de Silva
- Françoise Fabian - Mme de Chartres
Screenplay
- Manoel de Oliveira (Screenplay)
- Jacques Parsi
- Madame de La Fayette (Novel)
Cinematography: Emmanuel Machuel
Editing: Valérie Loiseleux
Production: Gemini Films, Wanda Films, Madragoa Filmes
Country: France, Portugal, Spain
Language: Français, Português
Original Language: fr
More Films by Director: Manoel de Oliveira
More Films in Genre: Drama
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is The Letter about?
- A well-bred, lovely, spiritual, sad young woman marries an attentive physician who loves her. She feels affection but no love. Soon after, without design, she falls in love with Pedro Abrunhosa, a poet and performance artist. He also loves her. She keeps her distance from him, confessing her love to a friend who is a nun and, later, to her husband. Hunger for her love and jealousy consume him; she attends him as he wastes away. With his death, she can marry and express her passion, but what she does and how she explains herself, particularly to her cloistered friend, is at the heart of the film. Glimpses of convent life and of Abrunhosa on stage give contrast and mute comment.
- Who directed The Letter?
- The Letter was directed by Manoel de Oliveira.
- Who stars in The Letter?
- The Letter stars Chiara Mastroianni, Pedro Abrunhosa, Antoine Chappey, Leonor Silveira, Maria João Pires, Luís Miguel Cintra.
- How long is The Letter?
- The Letter has a runtime of 1h 47m (107 minutes).
- What genre is The Letter?
- The Letter is a Drama film.
- Where was The Letter produced?
- The Letter was produced in France, Portugal, Spain.