Love Letters

New World. Director Amy Jones; Producer Roger Corman; Screenplay Amy Jones; Camera Alec Hirschfeld; Editor Wendy Greene; Music Ralph Jones; Art Director Jeannine Oppewall

Jamie Lee Curtis
James Keach
Amy Madigan
Bud Cort
Matt Clark
Bonnie Bartlett

Love Letters is a fine intimate drama from writer-director (and former editor) Amy Jones. Although overly schematic and lacking a certain humor that might have been welcome, film is much closer to the tradition of personal European filmmaking.

Although in no way intended to seem typical, Jamie Lee Curtis is seen living a life that is certainly shared by many young contempo women.

Suddenly, barely past ago 40, Curtis' mother dies, and the daughter discovers a collection of old letters which reveal the secret love of her mother's life, a love which can stand as a pure ideal to Curtis.

While pouring over the missives, Curtis meets prosperous photographer James Keach, a 40-ish married man with two kids.

Also believable are the intense and sweaty sex scenes, into which Curtis throws herself with increasing abandon, and the exchanges with her best friend (Amy Madigan) who delivers conventional put-downs of modern men by way of rationalizing a vow of celibacy.

(Color) Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1983. Running time: 98 MIN.

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