Review: A love letter
The irony of our present time offers a deepening sense of disconnect and isolation despite the speed and convenience of modern-day communication. Yet in this age, director Thaïs Despont delivers us A love letter: where the simplicity of a handwritten letter invites viewers together through evoking a raw, honest, and relatable intimacy.
In this visual poem, we follow actor Tamara Appleton as she narrates the first love letter she wrote to Despont. Its imagery, paired with a warm color palette, makes you feel like it’s walking you through a dream, quite like how love itself feels. In addition, having Appleton act out the letter makes the film feel like Despont’s response to Appleton herself: an homage to her and the authentic relationship that they share and cultivate.
With this, the letter’s fearlessness in expressing emotions as vulnerable as love roots a personal connection not only to Despont but to her audience. It breaks that fourth wall, enveloping viewers in the warmth and sincerity that love brings us.
More info & links:
- Director: Thaïs Despont
- Thaïs Despont’s IG
- A love letter screened at the OCan Film Festival in Ottawa in 2023.
Bernice De Gracia
Film Reviewer
One of Bernice’s fondest childhood memories is picking up a new DVD to watch with her parents every weekend. Since then, she always knew that she wanted to be a creative. Whether it be through the visual, literary, or performing arts, Bernice aspires to lead a career in storytelling. The ardor she has cultivated for film studies, in particular, earned her a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from De La Salle University in Manila, the Philippines. Bernice continues on her creative odyssey through pursuing a Scriptwriting certificate at Algonquin College. Yet amid the whirlwinds of adulting, she remains her inner child as an avid film lover.
