Letter to Brezhnev (1985)

Two Soviet sailors, Peter and Sergei, go ashore in Liverpool to spend one night on the town. Peter can speak a minimal amount of English but it's enough to make contact with two ... See full summary »

Director:

Chris Bernard

Writer:

Frank Clarke

Stars:

Peter Firth, Alfred Molina, Tracy Marshak-Nash

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alfred Molina	...	Sergei
Peter Firth	...	Peter
Tracy Marshak-Nash	...	Tracy (as Tracy Lea)
Alexandra Pigg	...	Elaine
Margi Clarke	...	Teresa
Susan Dempsey	...	Girl in Pub
Ted Wood	...	Mick
Carl Chase	...	Taxi Driver
Sharon Power	...	Charlie's Girl
Robbie Dee	...	Charlie
Eddie Ross	...	Rayner
Syd Newman	...	Dmitri
Gerry White	...	1st Doorman
Pat Riley	...	2nd Doorman
Wendy Votel	...	1st Girl on Bus

Storyline

Two Soviet sailors, Peter and Sergei, go ashore in Liverpool to spend one night on the town. Peter can speak a minimal amount of English but it's enough to make contact with two Liverpudlian natives, Elaine and Theresa. Elaine and Peter immediately fall in love with each other, but the night is short and they must leave with the ship. Elaine can't forget him and writes a letter to Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, asking him to make it possible for them to reunite.

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Plot Keywords:

letter | love | sailor | liverpool | thatcherism | 

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Taglines:

A new wave comedy...from Liverpool with Love

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The script was written in only two weeks and the film was shot in three weeks.

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Goofs

Elaine says the British embassy did nothing to help her. It is highly unlikely that that she as a British citizen in Britain would have contacted any British embassy, all of which would, by definition, be in other countries. She would have contacted the Foreign Office, which is the authority dealing with foreign affairs and international matters in Britain. The casual viewer might easily confuse the two, but Elaine, who has recently dealt with them, would not make this mistake.

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Quotes

Elaine: [writing letter, voice over] ... I just need to be with Peter again, he loves me, and I deeply love him, our love stretches over two continents. You're my last and only hope, the British authorities have done nothing to help me, so I leave my heart in your hands. I ask only to see him again and offer you the hand of friendship and sincerity from an ordinary Kirkby girl. Yours hopefully, Elaine Spencer.

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Crazy Credits

The end credits roll to the background of a painted Moscow city landscape.

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Connections

Referenced in I'll Be There (2003)

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Soundtracks

Hit That Perfect Beat
Written by Steve Bronski, John Foster, Larry Steinbachek
Performed by Bronski Beat
(uncredited)

User Reviews

girl is bored,meets boy,falls for boy....needs help

set in 80`s Liverpool...the best love story since Romeo and Juliet,far from being sloppy,more in-your-face,honest truth from two Scouse lasses on a night out...they run into a couple of Russian sailors on a one-night pass and two fall in love during that night.. but he has to leave on his ship the next day....she encounter red tape by the mile in her attempts to visit him in Russia...so she goes straight to Mr.Brezhnev himself for help......hilarious,gritty,sad...and you will be smiling by the time the credits roll....

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bons baisers de Liverpool

Filming Locations:

Shaftesbury Hotel, Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

GBP400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, Palace Pictures, Yeardream

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1