Letter to Brezhnev Dual Edition Release | Margi Clarke | Alexander Pigg | Peter Firth | Alfred Molina | Frank Clarke | Chris BarnardLetter to Brezhnev: A film by Chris Bernard. Written by Frank Clarke. With Peter Firth, Alfred Molina, Alexandra Pigg, Margi Clarke 

Buy Now at the British Film Institute Shop

One of the most significant and influential British films of the 1980s, Letter to Brezhnev 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, the film starred a fresh young cast. Now, more than 30 years on, it will be released by the BFI on Blu-ray (for the first time) and DVD in a Dual Format Edition on 24 April 2017. Special features include new interviews with cast members and a new audio commentary.

Two Merseyside girls escape their humdrum lives for a night on the town, where they meet two Russian sailors 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

  • From Liverpool with Love (15 mins): original making-of documentary
  • Newly filmed interview with actors Alexandra Pigg and Peter Firth
  • Newly filmed interview with actor Margi Clarke
  • Audio commentary with actor Margi Clarke
  • New audio commentary with director Chris Bernard and screenwriter Frank Clarke
  • Original theatrical trailer
  • Illustrated booklet including new writing by Frank Clarke and Professor Juliet Hallam 

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 (320kbps)