The Last Letter from Your Lover

This is an age-old love story set over decades which viewers will recognise early on. Nevertheless, it is how we get to the conclusion that is the point and director Augustine Frizzell has crafted a film that maintains the interest and is quite a looker too.

Coming off long relationship journalist Ellie (Felicity Jones) is at to and froes with her love life when she immerses herself in an article that uncovers a number of letters that detail an affair between a former journalist at the publication Anthony O’Hare (nicknamed Boot by Jennifer) (Callum Turner) and socialite Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley) back in the 1960’s. Their story is told in flashback from their initial meeting on the French Coast where he has gone to interview Jennifer’s wealthy husband Larry (Joe Alwyn), to their return to London. A passionate affair unfolds that among the usual bumps in the road throws in amnesia and some deductive work.

This is paralleled by Ellie and the publication’s archivist Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan) as they dig deeper into the story more letters are found and that the two lovers are still alive. All the while Rory and Ellie go through the usual we-annoy-each-other pre-love rites of passage before they notice their hidden depths.

It is unashamedly slushy and romantic having a despicable cad in Larry - a controlling arrogant individual who virtually strips Jennifer of her dignity - while getting off on the wrong foot O’Hare proves to be an understanding man who lets Jennifer’s character live and breathe.
The Ellie and Rory story isn’t quite so compelling not having the drama of the other. They also lose out on the sparkling locations of the south of France and the open-top sports car drives through the mountains. Soggy London it is for them.

The heavy lifting is from Woodley and Turner whose characters are profoundly changed from the moment they meet. By comparison Ellie/Rory are lightweight though delightfully played. Having said that they are all well served by a witty and literate script by Nick Payne, Esta Spalding and Jojo Moyes (on whose book this is based).