THE LAST LETTER FROM YOUR LOVER REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2016, a feature film adaptation of Jojo Moyes’ book, Me Before You, was released and starred Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin. It was a romantic drama that focused on the relationship between a paralysed young man and his bubbly caretaker. While some people found it to be an emotional watch, critics were divided and praised the performances by Clarke and Claflin, however, they weren’t impressed by the film’s clumsy handling of a serious subject. Me Before You was more successful at the box office and made over $208 million. Following its success, Moyes’ 2012 book, The Last Letter from your Lover has been adapted into a feature film starring Felicity Jones, Shailene Woodley and Callum Turner. 

A pair of interwoven stories set in the present and past follows Ellie Haworth (Jones), an ambitious journalist who discovers a trove of secret love letters from 1965 and becomes determined to solve the mystery of the forbidden affair at their centre. As she uncovers the story behind Jennifer Stirling (Woodley), the wife of a wealthy industrialist, Laurence (Joe Alwyn) and Anthony O'Hare (Turner), the financial journalist assigned to cover him, Ellie's own love story unfolds with the assistance of Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan), an earnest, endearing archivist who helps her track down more letters.

Those who liked Me Before You will almost certainly enjoy with what director Augustine Frizzell has created with her adaptation of Moyes’ book, The Last Letter From Your Lover as both are romantic dramas. What’s most interesting about the film is that it tells two stories that take place in different time settings. The film is at its most romantic and compelling when it’s focusing on the affair between Jennifer and Anthony, with Woodley and Turner sharing chemistry. The modern day scenes could have easily been boring, however, they benefit from Jones’ charming performance as Ellie who is fascinated by the letters she finds that were written by Jennifer and Anthony. As Ellie works to uncover the mystery behind the letters, she finds herself falling in love with Rory. Because the scenes that take place in the past are serious, the modern day scenes are more lighthearted and provide occasional moments of comic relief. Getting the balance between drama and comedy can be challenging as, during a serious scene, the humour feels out of place and vice versa. Fortunately, this wasn’t the case with The Last Letter From Your Lover. Most of the humour comes from Ellie’s awkward interactions with Rory that soon develop into a romance.

The story is far from unpredictable, despite this, however. I still found The Last Letter From Your Lover to be a romantic and heartfelt drama. What makes it compelling is the affair between Jennifer and Anthony. Although Jennifer is married to Laurence, she’s clearly unhappy and, shortly after meeting Anthony, she quickly falls for him. Because Jennifer doesn’t love her husband, we want her to be with Anthony. Meanwhile, in the present day, Ellie discovers their love letters. Like Ellie, we want to know if the couple ended up together. The answer may not be that surprising, however, it leads to a moving ending.

What I found most interesting about The Last Letter From Your Lover is how romance is explored in the two different timelines. Nowadays, many people form romantic relationships through dating apps, however, the film shows how relationships were formed in a time when phones and computers didn’t exist and, instead of text messages, people would write heartfelt and meaningful letters. Some of the romantic films that have been released recently are modern so it was refreshing to watch a film that explores love in the 1960s. I think that The Last Letter From Your Letter may appeal to those who grew up and made relationshps in the same setting as it will make them feel nostalgic.

The strength of The Last Letter From Your Lover lies in the performances delivered by its talented cast. The standout is Woodley who delivers a passionate performance as Jennifer alongside Turner as her love interest, Anthony. Recently, Jones has become known for her appearances in films that are set in the past including The Theory of Everything (where she portrayed Stephen Hawking’s wife, Jane, and earned her first Oscar nomination), On The Basis of Sex (where she delivered an impressive portrayal of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and was overlooked by the Academy) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (a spin-off that takes place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away), however, as Ellie, she is naturally sweet and instantly likeable. Aside from the three leading performances, credit also has to be given to Diana Kent and Ben Cross who portray the older versions of Jennifer and Anthony in the modern day setting. In just one scene, they were able to capture the chemistry of the younger versions of their characters. 

While the acting on screen is impressive, the work on f The Last Letter From Your Lover from behind the scenes also stand out, including the costume design and Jennifer’s stunning wardrobe, including her luxurious dresses, comfortable beach outfits and sleek casual clothes. 

It goes without saying but the last year and a half has been incredibly difficult for obvious reasons. However, now more than ever, we all need escapism and films provide that. The Last Letter From Your Lover was recently released on the streaming service, Netflix, in the United States but is getting a cinema release in the United Kingdom. Whether you watch it at home or on the big screen, I think that The Last Letter From Your Lover is worth watching for those looking for a romantic drama that tells an interesting story and is easy to watch.

7/10