The Letter

1999·Movie
1h 47min
61
DecentGoodWatch score

Where to watch

No stream option in US yet.

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

The Letter fingerprint

Immersive world, strong craft, light on feelings.

Energy

Calm and low-key

Builds slowly, so the intensity comes in waves.

  • Tension6
  • Spectacle4
  • Adrenaline3

Heart

Profoundly sad and romantic

  • Melancholy9
  • Romance8
  • Pathos8

Humor

A little humor

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay4
  • Cringe Humor2
  • Dark Humor2

World

Faith and meaning and the mind

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout characters, performances, and dialogue

Layered plot that rewards full attention.

  • Character Depth9
  • Acting8
  • Dialogue Quality8

Style

Standout cinematography and score

  • Cinematography8
  • Music Composition8
  • Editing7

Who it's for

AdultsDate NightFriends NightPartner WatchSolo WatchThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

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.
Tragic RomanceSpiritual ConflictAdulterous LovePeriod DramaCharacter-DrivenEmotional IntensityContemplativePortuguese Cinema

Crew

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about The Letter

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Letter legally?

GoodWatch doesn't know of a legal streaming option for The Letter in the United States right now. Pick another country in the Where to Watch section to check elsewhere.

Is The Letter worth watching?

61
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 62/100 (IMDb 6.3). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is The Letter rated?

Sexual content

Content advisories: sexual content.

How long is The Letter?

1 h 47 min

The Letter runs 1 h 47 min.

What language is The Letter in?

FrenchPortuguese

It was made in French, with some Portuguese. Produced in France, Portugal, Spain.

In how many countries can I watch The Letter?

7CHDEESFRGBPLAT

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for The Letter in 7 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does The Letter use?

Villain ProtagonistMighty Whitey and Mellow YellowRace LiftGreen-Eyed MonsterVillain with Good PublicityFaintingOpium DenAsian Speekee EngrishKarma HoudiniBlatant LiesMaligned Mixed MarriageYellow Periland 9 more

TV Tropes lists 21 storytelling tropes for The Letter, including Villain Protagonist, Mighty Whitey and Mellow Yellow, Race Lift.

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