Foreign
Letters
is a beautifully stamped love letter to friendship and to the
everlasting
essence of relationships between human beings. We all long to connect.
We long
for affection, for love, for meaning, for understanding, and for
someone we can
be there for and who can be there for us.
The
story is simple but profound
because of how relatable it is on an entirely universal level. The
basic
establishment of the plot is that an immigrant girl who has moved with
her
family from Israel finds herself adjusting to a new life in America and
while
adjusting to the new school, education system, and general lifestyle
she meets
a Vietnamese girl who is growing up also amidst the surrounding culture
climate
of the times. The pair quickly becomes close friends, hanging out
regularly,
and getting to know each other. They hang out all the time and are as
undeniably
close as imaginable. The friendship is extremely meaningful for both of
them.
A
friend is one of the best things a
person can have in life. It doesn't depend upon who you are or upon the
story
behind your life either. Friends are valuable, invaluable,
and friendship is always a core element to the
fundamental nature of human relationships.
Our
connections drive us and help to
make us who we are. Foreign Letters is a film that aptly understands
this and makes
a meaningful message out of understanding. If
you've ever had someone close to you in
your life, even more so during childhood, then this is something to
appeal to
you. It's universal in essence and at the very core.
The
performances by young actresses
Noa Rotstein and Dalena Le impress. It's wonderful when young actors
make
characters feel believable, and they have accomplished this goal. You
will be
amazed by how authentic the friendship feels. Films don't have to be
complex to
be moving and profound. Foreign Letters reiterates
this aspect of filmmaking. It is the simple grace notes that in the end
make
this a memorable film and worthy experience.
As
said, Foreign Letters is not a complex film in
structure. The entire
film could be summed up as being a personal story about friendship, as
an
inquisitive examination of blended cultures in America, and as an
examination
on youth culture especially. Expand the plot somewhat with a story of
letters
being written to a foreign pen-pal by one of the girls and it's as
though almost
everything is summed up tidily about Foreign
Letters. Yet this is only if you look only at the mechanics of the
plot,
and this is not a film about plot but rather an experience about
friends, love,
and childhood reminiscence.
Filmmaker
Ela Thier based this written
and directed feature-film debut upon her own assortment of experiences
found
throughout her childhood. Specifically, Thier worked to tell a story
about her
closest childhood friendship and how important that friendship was to
her. It's
moving to recognize how profound these experiences can be around the
world,
across cultures, across a multitude of effects and places in time. Foreign Letters understands that
friendship can act as some kind of key
to understanding the essence of all humanity. We all long for
connection. It
remains one of the fundamentals of human experience.
Told
with low-key brush strokes but
with clear enthusiasm and understanding, Foreign
Letters manages to be a wonderful indie-drama that can appeal to
anyone who
has ever had a friend. Thier's filmmaking method is that universal.
The
DVD:
Video:
Foreign
Letters is
presented on DVD in the original
theatrical aspect ratio 1.85:1. The film has a low-key elegance to the
cinematography
that stands out nicely on this disc. There are several shots of the
forests and
natural surrounding environments which lends a certain element of
naturalistic
beauty. The film is an intimately woven drama and the photography
certainly
manages to reflect that. The transfer has strong colors but minor
interlacing.
It's a visual, incredibly strong, and enjoyable presentation overall
and it won't
disappoint viewers.
Audio:
I
wasn't
expecting a surround sound mix - those sound mixes are only
sporadically found
on the Film Movement releases. Yet there are two sound options: 5.1 and
2.0
audio options. In English, Hebrew, and Vietnamese with English
subtitles. The
5.1 mix isn't revolutionary by any means; however, it is a better and
more
pleasant experience than a standard 2.0 mix. The environment sounds
much livelier
with the mix and it adds a nice level of ambiance to the film
experience.
Extras:
There
is a
decent selection of supplements on this release:
Now
and Then - An interview by
Huriyyah Muhammad with Ela Thier and Van Khang (5:46)
highlights the filmmaker
and longtime friend and inspiration for the film in a short sit-down
interview.
Deleted Scenes (3:55) consist of
two deleted moments from the film. These aren't essential to
understanding the
film (hence the deletion?) but still might be worth a look for a
dedicated fan.
Film
Movement's Monthly Short Film is actually A
Summer Rain (16:55). Written and directed by Ela Thier, the short
was the
basis for the feature length film Foreign
Letters, being reviewed here. Those who enjoy the full length film
should
also watch the original short as it is a definite spring board for what
would
come and is a successful example of how stories can work in both short
and long
examples of filmmaking.
Extras
are
rounded out with a mini bio on writer/director Ela Thier, the original
trailer
for Foreign Letters, and trailers for
other releases from the Film Movement catalog.
Final
Thoughts:
Foreign
Letters is
entirely about friendship and its relevance to humanity. It marks a
strong
debut feature for writer/director Ela Thier
and it is worth seeking out for fans of low-key indie dramas about
essential
elements of being human. Friendship is around the top of the list and
this film
is fully aware of that. You will believe in the friendship portrayed in
the
film because, quite likely, you've experienced something similar
before.
Recommended.
Neil Lumbard is a lifelong fan of cinema. He aspires to make movies and has written two screenplays on spec. He loves writing, and currently does in Texas.