The Mailbox (1977)

Every delivery day, 83 year-old Lethe waits at her mailbox for the mailman to arrive. Widowed at a young age, she now lives alone in her house in a rural Utah neighborhood that her father ... See full summary »

Director:

David K. Jacobs

Writers:

David K. Jacobs (screenplay), Florence Doyle Putt (story)

Stars:

Lethe Tatge, Rachel Jacobs, Rebbeca Glade

Cast

Cast overview:
Lethe Tatge	...	Lethe Anderson
Rachel Jacobs	...	Rachel Johnson
Rebbeca Glade	...	Sharon Johnson
Alan Nash	...	Mike the Mailman
Martha Henstrom	...	Voice of Myra
Winkie Horman	...	Voice of Susan

Storyline

Every delivery day, 83 year-old Lethe waits at her mailbox for the mailman to arrive. Widowed at a young age, she now lives alone in her house in a rural Utah neighborhood that her father built and her husband Francis fixed up. She expectantly walks to the mailbox hoping for cards and letters from her family, but none have arrived for many months. At least joking with Mike, the friendly mailman, eases her loneliness a bit. Her caring neighbors Sharon and Rachel also help, and 5 year-old Rachel often comes to visit, the highlight of Lethe's lonely day. On the phone with Lethe's far-away daughter, Sharon says she should write and visit more, but Myra only talks about sending a letter detailing plans to put Lethe in a rest home.

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Plot Keywords:

mailman | mailbox | loneliness | old age | surprise after end credits | 

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Genres:

Drama | Short

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brigham Young University

Technical Specs

Runtime:

24 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in In the Service of God (2003)

User Reviews

Loneliness is depressing

Being lonely is one of the things I do not like. In this short film made by BYU, an elderly widow named Lethe who lives alone writes letters to her children, but no replies come. The neighbor girl who is played by Rachel Jacobs sees Lethe sometimes and has fun with Lethe. But she gets very lonely sometimes and talks to her deceased husband.

I feel that loneliness is very depressing and I have felt lonely a lot in my life and I can see the depression Lethe is put in when her children do not have contact with her. I feel it is important to maintain communication with all relatives because you never know when they will go. I recommend this film to everyone!