La lettre is a film adaptation of La Princesse de Clèves by Madame de La Fayette, the first psychological novel in French literature (1672). This story focuses on the impossible yet inevitable love between princess de Clèves and the prince of Nemours. De Oliveira has transposed the story to contemporary Paris, but has further remained faithful to the essence. The formalism of the conversations, the reticence of the emotions and passions have been retained, yet La lettre is an utterly modern film. In his investigation into views on passion, love and marital obligations, De Oliveira brilliantly shifts back and forth between present and past. A young and attractive woman is courted by the passionate François de Guise, who is however considered unsuitable for her. She makes do with Jacques de Clèves, a well-known middle-aged doctor, and marries him. Soon after her marriage she meets Abrunhosa, a pop singer (Pedro Abrunhosa, playing himself) and a latent passion overwhelms her. She seeks advise from an old friend who is now a nun. As always with De Oliveira, La lettre has a modest, pure, almost ascetic tone. The viewer will be pleased with the extremely talented Chiara Mastroianni (daughter of Marcello and Catherine Deneuve) in the lead as Madame de Clèves.
