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Letter to Brezhnev

Play trailer Poster for Letter to Brezhnev R 1985 1h 32m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
In this English romantic comedy, two young women in Thatcher-era Liverpool, Elaine and Teresa, meet a pair of Soviet sailors, Peter and Sergei, who are on shore leave. While Teresa and Sergei seem content to have a carefree night, Elaine and Peter fall in love, leading to heartbreak when the officers have to return to duty on their ship. Can Elaine find a way to escape her gritty working-class surroundings and reunite with Peter?

Critics Reviews

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Michael Blowen Boston Globe Jul 30, 2024
A low-budget, tart-tongued comedy as audacious as it is funny. Go to Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
3/4
Letter to Brezhnev is strong because it is simple. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Oct 10, 2023
B-
A feel-good story. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Jul 5, 2005
3/5
Robin Clifford Reeling Reviews Oct 8, 2004
3/5
Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice Aug 26, 2004
4/5
A fresh, gritty, humorous and winning love story. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alan S @RT71657717 Nov 7, 2025 Timeless, if not a little cheesy, for today's audiences but still thunderous in its message. If you have an ambition, a goal, a desire, you follow it through to the very end. See more Aug 11, 2019 Compelling, engaging, with a big heart - funny, gritty, it does not shy away from the realities of life in Liverpool in Thatcher's Britain. Great 80s soundtrack. See more Nov 4, 2011 Much underappreciated, near classic British film (generally, not critically) which isn't shown as much these days as it should be. See more Aug 18, 2010 Sweet little film about two scouse girls looking to escape their dull lives in 80s Kirby who meet a pair of Russian sailors. One falls in love and writes to Russian President Brezhnev to find a way to be with him. I want to know what happens to her in Russia! That would have been a really interesting film! See more Jan 22, 2010 I remember seeing this - probably on TV but had forgotten all about it, until chatting to Chris from the Co-Operative Bank. He told me he was "Andrew Burke" in it. So there! See more Oct 11, 2009 If only this film had had a better soundtrack - which it really should have done. Dated, but lots of strange, nostalgic fun - and what on earth is Alfred Molina doing in this film?! See more Read all reviews
Letter to Brezhnev

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Cast & Crew

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Chris Bernard

Director

Alexandra Pigg

Elaine

Peter Firth

Peter

Alfred Molina

Sergei

Margi Clarke

Teresa

Neil Cunningham

Foreign Office Man
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Letter to Brezhnev

Letter to Brezhnev (1985) Letter to Brezhnev (1985) Letter to Brezhnev (1985) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In this English romantic comedy, two young women in Thatcher-era Liverpool, Elaine and Teresa, meet a pair of Soviet sailors, Peter and Sergei, who are on shore leave. While Teresa and Sergei seem content to have a carefree night, Elaine and Peter fall in love, leading to heartbreak when the officers have to return to duty on their ship. Can Elaine find a way to escape her gritty working-class surroundings and reunite with Peter?
Director
Chris Bernard
Rating
R
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 32m
Sound Mix
Surround
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