Letter to Brezhnev

Written by Frank Clarke

Directed by Chris Bernard

Starring Peter Firth, Alfred Molina, Alexandra Pigg, Margi Clarke

New BFI Blu-ray and DVD release on 24 April 2017

Launched with reunion screening and Q&A with cast and crew at FACT, Liverpool on Tue 18 April

One of the most significant and influential British films of the 1980s, Letter to Brezhnev (1985) is a touching romantic tale set against the backdrop of Thatcherism, Liverpool’s club scene, one-night stands and a Europe still in the grip of the Cold War. Written by Frank Clarke and directed by Chris Bernard, who both worked on Brookside, the film starred a fresh, young and memorable cast.

Now, more than 30 years on, Letter to Brezhnev will be released by the BFI (British Film Institute) on Blu-ray (for the first time) and DVD in a Dual Format Edition (both discs in one box) on 24 April 2017. Special features include new interviews with cast members and a new audio commentary.

This Dual Format Edition will be launched in Liverpool with a special reunion screening followed by a Q&A with cast and crew, including Margi Clarke, Alexandra Pigg, Peter Firth, Frank Clarke and Chris Bernard, on Tuesday 18 April at 8.20pm at FACT Picturehouse, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool L1 4DQ. Tickets are on sale now from:

https://www.picturehouses.com/cinema/Picturehouse_At_Fact/film/letter-to-brezhnev

The screening is presented with the help of Clapperboard UK - the innovative, charitable, non-profit making organisation & film production agency led by young people from script to screen (charity number 1137432 / www.clapperboarduk.com). There will be opportunities to make donations to Clapperboard UK on the evening.

Two Merseyside girls escape their humdrum lives for a night on the town, where they meet two Russian sailors (Peter Firth and Alfred Molina) on shore leave. For Teresa (Margi Clarke), it’s a welcome bit of fun, but for Elaine (Alexandra Pigg, who was nominated for a BAFTA Award) it turns into much more. Letter to Brezhnev remains a hilarious and uplifting tale of how love and idealism can help ordinary people realise their dreams.

Special features

• Presented in High Definition and Standard Definition
• An Interview with Margi Clarke (2017, 35 mins)
• An Interview with Alexandra Pigg and Peter Firth (2017, 14 mins)
• Audio commentary with actor Margi Clarke
• New audio commentary with director Chris Bernard and screenwriter Frank Clarke
• From Liverpool with Love (2003, 16 mins): original making-of documentary
• Original theatrical trailer
• Stills and Collections Gallery
• Illustrated booklet including new writing by Frank Clarke and Professor Julia Hallam, and full film credits

Product details

RRP: £19.99/ Cat. no. BFIB1265 / Cert 15

UK / 1985 / colour / 94 mins / English language, with optional hard-of-hearing subtitles / original aspect ratio 1.66:1 // BD50: 1080p, 24fps, PCM 2.0 stereo (48kHz/24-bit) // DVD9: PAL, 25fps, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo (224kbps)

BFI Press contact:

Jill Reading, BFI Press Office

Tel: (020) 7957 4759

E-mail: jill.reading@bfi.org.uk

Images are available to download at www.image.net (requires registration) or contact the BFI Press Office.

BFI releases are available from all good home entertainment retailers or by mail order from the BFI Shop Tel: 020 7815 1350 or online at www.bfi.org.uk/shop