The Letter Reader

Such a wonderful short, so realistic and simple, deeply touches the soul, with its wealth of details and expressions, stupendous performances, magnificent photography and simple and passionate script, all delicately explored, short, but intense, melancholic and beautiful...

The film starts slowly and rather bleakly. Mum and dad are experiencing difficulties at home so they take their son to stay with grandma in the countryside. Initially he doesn't want to be there but grandma finds him things to do to help her with her shop which also doubles as a poste-restante for the villagers, some of whom cannot read. The boy acts as a reader for such people. To say more would be to give spoilers.

I was bored with the first 10 minutes or so - poverty, bleak terrain, etc, but I'm glad I stayed with this little film as the story builds and gives a loving and heartwarming second half - I loved it!