Name: The Last Letter from Your Lover
Genre: Drama, Romance
Released: 2021-07-23T00:00:00+00:00
Cast: Shailene Woodley, Felicity Jones, Callum Turner, Joe Alwyn, Nabhaan Rizwan

The final scene arrives, and you’re still waiting for a tear to fall.

Augustine Frizzell’s adaptation of Jojo Moyes’ novel The Last Letter from Your Lover is a film that promises emotional resonance through its intertwining narratives of love, memory, and second chances. Felicity Jones plays Ellie Haworth, a modern-day journalist who stumbles upon a cache of passionate letters from the 1960s between Jennifer Stirling (Shailene Woodley) and Anthony O’Hare (Callum Turner). The premise is compelling, offering a dual timeline that should allow for rich exploration of both past and present romantic entanglements.

Where the film succeeds is in its period detail and the chemistry between Woodley and Turner. Their scenes on the French Riviera are imbued with a palpable tension, their stolen glances and hesitant touches brimming with unspoken desire. Daniel Hart’s score amplifies this, weaving two distinct themes that effectively separate the timelines while tying them together emotionally. The 1960s sequences, in particular, benefit from a visual lushness that captures the era’s glamour and restraint.

However, the modern-day storyline falters, largely due to Ellie’s underwritten character. Jones, typically a nuanced actress, is hamstrung by a role that feels more like a narrative device than a fully realized person. Her obsession with Jennifer and Anthony’s story often feels contrived, lacking the emotional depth that would make her investigation compelling. The film’s attempt to draw parallels between Ellie’s life and Jennifer’s past love affair falls flat, as Ellie’s romantic subplot with Nick (Ncuti Gatwa) is perfunctory at best.

The film’s pacing also works against it. The back-and-forth between the timelines can feel disjointed, and key moments in both narratives are rushed or underdeveloped. For instance, Jennifer’s memory loss and subsequent journey of rediscovery could have been more harrowing, but the film glosses over the psychological toll, opting instead for a straightforward romance.

Ultimately, The Last Letter from Your Lover is a watchable but forgettable film. It has moments of genuine charm and emotional potential, but it never fully commits to exploring the complexities of its story.