The Letter
La Lettre
Synopsis
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.
Top Cast
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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
Alain Guillo
Le directeur de Jouillerie
Claude Lévèque
Le médecin de Mme de Chartres
Claude Sempere
Voix Off Présentateur TV
Marcel Terroux
Le Jardinier
Alexandre Nanaia
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Manoel de Oliveira
- Screenplay & Story
- Manoel de Oliveira
- Original Title
- La Lettre
- Country of Origin
- France, Portugal, Spain
- Spoken Languages
- French, Portuguese
- Runtime
- 1h 47m
- Production Studios
- Gemini Films, Wanda Films, Madragoa Filmes
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Manoel de Oliveira
Manoel de Oliveira, Jacques Parsi, Madame de La Fayette
Emmanuel Machuel
Valérie Loiseleux
Paulo Branco
Department Leadership Roster
Manoel de Oliveira
Director
Manoel de Oliveira
Screenplay
Emmanuel Machuel
Director of Photography
Paulo Branco
Producer
Valérie Loiseleux
Editor
Jacques Parsi
Writer
Judy Shrewsbury
Costume Design
Ana Vaz da Silva
Production Design
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Letter.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Letter
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
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 principal cast of The Letter includes Chiara Mastroianni, Pedro Abrunhosa, Antoine Chappey, Leonor Silveira, Maria João Pires.
When was The Letter released and how long is it?
The Letter was released in 1999 with a total runtime of 1h 47m.
Is The Letter based on a book or true story?
The Letter is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Madame de La Fayette".