Letter to Brezhnev

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Letter to Brezhnev

R

1985

1h 32m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

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100%

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8 Reviews

70%

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1,000+ Ratings

In this English romantic comedy, two young women in Thatcher-era Liverpool, Elaine (Alexandra Pigg) and Teresa (Margi Clarke), meet a pair of Soviet sailors, Peter (Peter Firth) and Sergei (Alfred Molina), who are on shore leave. While Teresa and Sergei seem content to have a carefree night, Elaine and Peter fall in love, leading to heartbreak when the officers have to return to duty on their ship. Can Elaine find a way to escape her gritty working-class surroundings and reunite with Peter?

Michael Blowen

Boston Globe

A low-budget, tart-tongued comedy as audacious as it is funny.

Jul 30, 2024

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Letter to Brezhnev is strong because it is simple.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 1, 2000

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

A feel-good story.

Rated: B-

Oct 10, 2023

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Jul 5, 2005

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Robin Clifford

Reeling Reviews

Rated: 3/5

Oct 8, 2004

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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

Spirituality & Practice

A fresh, gritty, humorous and winning love story.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 26, 2004

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Audience Member

Compelling, engaging, with a big heart - funny, gritty, it does not shy away from the realities of life in Liverpool in Thatcher's Britain. Great 80s soundtrack.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/23

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Audience Member

Much underappreciated, near classic British film (generally, not critically) which isn't shown as much these days as it should be.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

Sweet little film about two scouse girls looking to escape their dull lives in 80s Kirby who meet a pair of Russian sailors. One falls in love and writes to Russian President Brezhnev to find a way to be with him. I want to know what happens to her in Russia! That would have been a really interesting film!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

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Audience Member

I remember seeing this - probably on TV but had forgotten all about it, until chatting to Chris from the Co-Operative Bank. He told me he was "Andrew Burke" in it. So there!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/18/23

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Audience Member

If only this film had had a better soundtrack - which it really should have done. Dated, but lots of strange, nostalgic fun - and what on earth is Alfred Molina doing in this film?!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

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Audience Member

This was such a late eighties movie with the srikes and Britain in economic decline that it spoke to almost everyone who watched it. At the time the Soviet Union was still this terrifying entity just waiting to wipe us all off the face of the earth...This comes through a little in the film and it is really enjoyable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

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Chris Bernard

Director

Alexandra Pigg

Elaine

Peter Firth

Peter

Alfred Molina

Sergei

Margi Clarke

Teresa

Neil Cunningham

Foreign Office Man

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Synopsis

In this English romantic comedy, two young women in Thatcher-era Liverpool, Elaine (Alexandra Pigg) and Teresa (Margi Clarke), meet a pair of Soviet sailors, Peter (Peter Firth) and Sergei (Alfred Molina), who are on shore leave. While Teresa and Sergei seem content to have a carefree night, Elaine and Peter fall in love, leading to heartbreak when the officers have to return to duty on their ship. Can Elaine find a way to escape her gritty working-class surroundings and reunite with Peter?

Director: Chris Bernard
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 32m
Sound Mix: Surround