Watch Love Letters

Love Letters is a romantic drama film from 1999, directed by Stanley Donen and based on the eponymous Pulitzer Prize-winning play by A. R. Gurney. The titular letters are written by Andrew Ladd (Steven Weber) and Melissa Gardner (Laura Linney), two childhood friends who grow up together but take different paths in life. The film opens with Andrew and Melissa as young children in the 1930s, and follows them as they exchange letters over the course of several decades. Andrew comes from a wealthy family and is groomed for success, while Melissa is more of a free spirit and struggles to find her place in the world. Despite their differences, they share a deep connection and continue to correspond as they each navigate their own challenges and relationships.

As the years go by, Andrew becomes a successful lawyer and politician, while Melissa struggles with addiction and failed marriages. Along the way, they both marry other people, but still hold onto their feelings for each other. The bulk of the film is an extended series of flashbacks, as Andrew reads through Melissa's old letters after she has died, trying to make sense of their complicated relationship.

The film is framed by scenes of Andrew reading the letters, interspersed with flashbacks to the major events in Melissa's life. The letters themselves serve as a kind of narration, with each one revealing a little more about the characters' thoughts and feelings. We learn about Melissa's struggles with alcoholism and depression, as well as Andrew's complicated relationship with his wife and children.

Despite the heavy subject matter, Love Letters has moments of humor and sweetness. Kirsten Storms plays the young Melissa with an infectious energy, and her scenes with young Andrew (played by a pre-teen Kyle Gibson) are some of the film's highlights. The chemistry between Laura Linney and Steven Weber is also palpable, even as their characters' relationship remains complicated and unresolved.

The film is notable for its unique structure, as well as its exploration of themes like class, gender roles, and the power dynamics of relationships. While it may not be to everyone's taste, Love Letters is a thoughtful and well-crafted meditation on the ways in which we connect with others, even when we are miles apart.

Overall, Love Letters is a poignant and bittersweet exploration of love and loss, anchored by strong performances from its leads. Fans of romantic dramas and character studies are sure to enjoy this film, as well as anyone who appreciates a good old-fashioned love story.

Love Letters is a 1999 romance movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.