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In this unique retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac, a teenage boy named Khalifa, who is more boy than man with only a few hairs sprouting on his upper lip, is the hopeless romantic in the bustling city of Dubai in 1965. After being inspired by the film Dr Zhivago, he purchases a wool trench coat and furry hat despite the intense heat. Khalifa’s character may remind you of a Wes Anderson character with his energy and restlessness, and Eslam Al Kawarit’s performance truly stands out compared to the lackluster acting in other parts of the film. Originally made in 2018, this film is finally being released on streaming platforms.
Khalifa, a man working as a letter writer during the summer holidays, falls in love with an English woman. In Dubai, still under British control, the locals are dominated by upper-class British individuals who express their disdain for them. Elli, the niece of one of these Brits, is engaged but finds herself exchanging meaningful conversations with an Indian tailor named Mohammad. This creates a love triangle between Khalifa, the English woman, and the Indian tailor.
Mohammad hires Khalifa to court Elli through written communication. Initially, the young man is not interested due to his anti-British sentiments and the limited vocabulary of the English language for expressing love. However, he becomes enamored with Shakespeare’s sonnets and begins to earnestly pursue Elli. While Al Kawarit’s performance is endearing, the film struggles with conflicting themes. It presents a lighthearted romance, but also touches on more serious issues such as colonialism and racism. However, the film chooses not to delve into these deeper topics. Overall, it is a gentle and somewhat unremarkable story that doesn’t leave a lasting impact.
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The film “The Letter Writer” will be available on Prime Video in the US on February 14 and in the UK on February 19.
Source: theguardian.com
