Critic Shelf
Home
Discover
Sign in
Your rating
Tap a star, half steps count

The Letter

Sep 22, 1999 · 1h 47m
No ratings yet
Drama

PLOT

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.

REVIEWS

View reviews

CAST

Chiara Mastroianni
Mme de Clèves
Pedro Abrunhosa
Pedro Abrunhosa
Antoine Chappey
M. de Clèves
Leonor Silveira
La religieuse
Maria João Pires
Maria João Pires
Luís Miguel Cintra
M. da Silva
Stanislas Merhar
François de Guise
Ricardo Trêpa
Intrus
Directed by Manoel de Oliveira

DETAILS

Status
Released
Original language
FR
Budget
—
Revenue
—
Production
Gemini Films, Wanda Films, Madragoa Filmes
Country
FR
Critic Shelf
Rate what you watch, show it on shelves, and compare taste with anyone. Film and TV data from TMDB.
ACCOUNT
Sign in
Create account
Delete account
COMPANY
About
Contact
Privacy
Terms
This product uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.
© 2026 Critic Shelf
WATCH · RATE · COMPARE