Produced in 1998, “La Lettre” is a French piece and has English subtitles, following the journey of a young boy named Stéphane who is in love with his best friend, Aurélie. The short subject also explores the worries that the French society had of a war breaking out in the year 2000. The whole piece is black and white denoting an environment of cold-heartedness and empty of love. The boys brother, Jeromé is extremely forceful and has no remorse for his brothers shyness, and mocks him about the fact he has never properly kissed a girl. Three to four minutes into the piece, and we as the audience make an initial judgement that this is a serious piece exploring themes of war and a home empty of emotiveness.
As the young boy develops the photo he slips into a short sleep and starts to dream about Aurélie. Gondry illustrates to the audience it is the day before the year 2000 and the environment is a party, it all seems very surreal as the shots are in slow motion. The non-diegetic music has certain circus connotations running through it, introducing comedic tones to the piece. Stéphane now has a camera for a head as Aurélie is walking around the party as a negative print. This is extremely funny and the initial judgements about the film are starting to be challenged. Stéphane goes to kiss his love and the camera head hits her and knocks her out cold. The music stops and this breaks the original judgement that this is a serious piece and introduces humorous tones to the film. The silence of the fall highlights it in an understated way and we as the audience are allowed to laugh out loud to this. Gondry depicts Aurélie falling to the floor in slow motion then the Eiffel tower falling and a conventional war siren alarm ringing, the boy then wakes up. The fact the Eiffel tower falls in a very abnormal and comedy-esque manor, conveys that Gondry believed this conspiracy of war in the new year is somewhat silly and should not be taken seriously.
Stéphane goes to visit Aurélie before she goes on her vacation to receive a letter she wrote for him. The narrative is coming to a conclusion and we are attached emotively with the young boy. The non-diegetic music is very lighthearted, and the audience is brought to the height of suspense within the piece as she hands him the letter. Contrary to initial judgements, Aurélie is in love with Jeromé. As the lighthearted music continues we can assume it is not the end of the world for the young boy, as he slowly tears her pictures from his wall with stroppy written all over his face.
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| An emotional Stéphane tears Aurélie's pictures from his wall |
This is one of my favorite short films to date as it completely breaks the initial judgements made by the audience. Also, the way Gondry turns such bleak, dark, serious elements within the piece to a laugh out loud simple story is very effective, creating a highly memorable piece.
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