LETTER TO BREZHNEV
UK, 1985, 94 minutes, Colour.
Alfred Molina, Peter Firth.
Directed by Chris Bernard.
Letter to Brezhnev is a local Liverpool comedy, particularly well acted with sharp writing. It was a co-production with Britain's Channel 4. The film is particularly well acted by Alexandra Pigg in the central role of Elaine, the unemployed young woman of Liverpool who meets a Russian sailor, falls in love with him, continues her campaign to get permission to go to the Soviet Union and be with him - despite protest from her family and from officialdom. She gets good support from her friend, Therese, expertly played by Marg Clarke. While the film is local, of particular interest to British audiences, the humour and the humanity are sufficiently strong to make it of universal appeal.
1. Entertaining local comedy? Social observations of Britain in the 80s perspectives towards the Soviet Union - pre-Glasnost?
2. The Liverpool settings, the photography of the city, homes, streets, factories, clubs, the docks? The ugliness of Liverpool, the modern city? The musical score, the range of songs?
3. The title, the focus on Elaine and her love for Peter, her concern to see him, the letter to the President of the Soviet Union, Anglo-Soviet? relationships and tensions? The breaking down of barriers soon to come with Glasnost?
4. The opening with Elaine and Tracey, their friendship, background, work, Tracey's romantic attachment to Mick and her clashes with him? The background of factories, Theresa and her work at the chicken factory and her comments, style, clothes? The setting of the tone for the film?
5. Theresa and Elaine in the taxi, smoking the joint, the taxi driver, going to the club, warding off the men? Seeing the Russian sailors? The musical atmosphere, staring at each other? The meeting with Peter, dancing, falling in love - how credible? Sergei and Theresa as a pair? Leaving the club? The night together, Sergei and Theresa and their sexual liaison, the contrast with Peter and Elaine just talking? The next morning, the tour of the city, happiness together?' The sadness of Peter's return to the boat, Elaine in love, going into his cabin, the sexual encounter?
6. The aftermath with Elaine at home, writing letters to Peter, wanting to go to the Soviet Union? Friendship with her sister, their clashes, at home, the interviews with
the media? Theresa and her support? The clash with her parents, their not understanding? Her mother laying down the law? Going to the British embassy, the barriers put in her way? The decision to write to Brezhnev and Theresa's support? The return-letter, the ticket, the prospect of going? The foreign office official, his pleading with her, her sympathetic response, the photo of Peter with the woman and information that he was married? Her disillusionment, anger with Theresa when she goaded her but conceding that Theresa was probably right? The final decision to go, farewell to her parents, sister, Theresa , the airport? The prurient interview with the journalist at the car? Her future?
7. Theresa, her liking men, nights out, liaisons? Friendship with Elaine, good advice? Her work in the factory? Supporting Elaine, the interview? The farewell, at the airport her being convinced that Peter was not married, the final talk between the two - and Theresa's inability to move out of her own environment? The final close-up of Elaine leaving?
8. Tracey, the friendship with Elaine, at the club, Mick, their meeting again in the street, the clash between the two, the bitter words?
9. Elaine's sister, at home, friendship, support, wanting to be photographed by the interviewer?
10. Peter and Sergei, the mission of the Russian ship to Liverpool, the opening of the film and looking at Liverpool, on the town, at the nightclub, Peter gazing at Elaine, falling in love, Sergei and Theresa and their affair? The bond between Peter and Elaine, the city tour, in the cabin? His return to Moscow, the letters? The possibility of a marriage?
11. The background of Liverpool's night life, the clubs, Mick wanting money from Tracey? Her giving it to him? the clashes, rivalries, unemployment? Theresa and Elaine and the men in the bar, Theresa robbing them, chased? The precarious life of the unemployed and the factory workers?
12. The contrast with officialdom, attitudes towards the Soviet Union and people like Elaine's sister and Tracey mouthing public opinion, what 'everybody knows' about Russia and the Soviet Union? The official And his pleading, the trick with the photo?
13. The portrait of English life, characters who are part stereotyped but part-original, the universal appeal of the theme - and its relevance as regards the Soviet Union in the 80s?
