Letter to Brezhnev
Letter to Brezhnev
R | 02 May 1986 (USA)
Letter to Brezhnev Trailers

The factories, pubs, clubs, hotels and streets of 1980s Liverpool form the backdrop for this tale of love, friendship, sex and a letter to the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev. Two Liverpool lasses, Teresa and Elaine meet two Russian sailors, Sergei and Peter and hook up for a night of fun and frolics. Teresa is looking for sex and a smile, Elaine wants love, romance and the dream of a life far away from the grime of the Liverpool docklands. A classic British romantic comedy filled with new wave tunes, 80s fashion, a little politics and a lot of heart.

Reviews
Protraph

Lack of good storyline.

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SparkMore

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

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Nessieldwi

Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

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Delight

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

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tjlisson

Ah, but if only it were realistic. Because if anyone knows anything about the way the Soviet Union dealt with sailors in those days, the regime would never have let these two guys go off by themselves on shore, not even for a short while. I hope no one has to explain to you why. And even if this sweet young thing did get her chance to get a letter through to Brezhnev, he would surely be wondering how this sailor was able to free himself long enough to get into this situation in the first place, and I can tell you he wouldn't like it — even if the propaganda value might otherwise be useful.But of course, romantic notions of life in the Soviet Union were not exactly rare at the time — especially, perhaps, in a very depressed place like Liverpool in the '80's. I wished Elaine luck, but it's kind of like watching one of those old Science Fiction movies and hoping the aliens and the earthlings can learn how to get along, because you know that in real life you don't really have to or get to.

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Matthew Hopkiins

I first saw this film when it came out and just fell in love with it. I cannot say why either, it just has a magical quality that draws you in. The setting obviously helps, Liverpool is a beautiful city, architecturally and spiritually and you get lavish helpings of both. The performances from the four lead actors are flawless to me, just the right balance of comedy and pathos, with special mention to Margi Clarke, whose brassy exterior hides a tenderness which she allows to shine through every so often.(As an aside I saw her do stand up once at Band on the Wall in Manchester, and boy was she rude!) I've seen comments on the boards saying people enjoyed it when it first came out, but now find it a bit ridiculous, and I can only totally disagree with them. I still watch this film at least a couple of times a year and never tire of it. If you haven't seen this gem, I can only suggest you get the DVD as soon as possible, and enjoy a film that exudes true human warmth.

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Lee Eisenberg

The opening scene in "Letter to Brezhnev" shows Soviet sailors Sergei (Alfred Molina) and Peter (Peter Firth) sighting Liverpool and recognizing it as the Beatles' hometown. When this happens, you know that you're in for something neat, and your assumptions get confirmed with what happens in Liverpool. Sergei and Peter have a brief fling with working-class Liverpudlian women Elaine (Alexandra Pigg) and Teresa (Margi Clarke).But, since this is the Cold War, the Russian guys obviously can't stay in England very long, and so they quickly have to return home. But Elaine can't forget them, and goes so far as to write Leonid Brezhnev a letter asking if she can come to the USSR to meet them. Needless to say, this isn't too popular with the British authorities, who decide to question Elaine about it.This is a most interesting look not only at working-class England, but also at the human aspects of the Cold War. Everyone in the movie does a very good job, especially Molina. I'm eager to see how he does in "The Da Vinci Code".

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shepfiona

set in 80`s Liverpool...the best love story since Romeo and Juliet,far from being sloppy,more in-your-face,honest truth from two Scouse lasses on a night out...they run into a couple of Russian sailors on a one-night pass and two fall in love during that night.. but he has to leave on his ship the next day....she encounter red tape by the mile in her attempts to visit him in Russia...so she goes straight to Mr.Brezhnev himself for help......hilarious,gritty,sad...and you will be smiling by the time the credits roll....

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