Letter Writer Review: Exploring Old Dubai Romance
Director: Layla Kaylif
Writer: Layla Kaylif (Screenplay)
Cast
- Eslam Al Kawarit
- Rosy McEwen (Blue Jean, Vesper)
- Muhammad Amir Nawaz
- Abdul Hadi Mehimidi
- Moose Aqel Al-Waeel
Plot: Set in 1960s ‘old Dubai’, a young boy who works summers as a professional letter writer for local illiterate travellers falls in love with the object of his customer’s affection.
Runtime: 1 Hour 35 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: The Letter Writer starts when a teenager Khalifa (Kawarit) works as a professional letter writer in Dubai. He dreams of being able to win the heart of a local woman Noora (Al Hashimi) and is searching for a way to make it happen. Elsewhere, Khalifa torments the local British embassy taking over his people’s land. While his parents have differences in opinions, where his father gets the final say.
Khalifa must navigate his homeland to find a way to make money and learn the importance of helping the community. It opens his eyes to more and sees him learn English to move forward with his monetary pursuits. He helps Mr Mohammad (Nawaz) with his love for an English woman Elli (McEwen) whose letters are the only means of communication. However, once Khalifa gets involved writing the letters, he finds himself experiencing new emotions unlike anything before.
Verdict on The Letter Writer
The Letter Writer is a romantic drama following a young teenager Khalifa who writes letters for locals. One of his latest clients wants to write to a woman in England, only Khalifa starts getting too attached to the letters he is writing. All set in the backdrop of a changing Old Dubai, where the British are trying to take over.
This is a moving story following the change in the young teenager. It uses the colonisation to build a wedge as well as the more traditional ways restricting people. Deep down it is a story showing how love happens and you must learn to deal with the ups and downs from it. It is more about understanding how important be honest is and seeing the world from outside the smaller environment you are raised in. We get a very strong cast where young Eslam Al Kawarit shines as Khalifa.
Where to Watch
The Letter Writer will be available on Amazon Prime in the US from 14th February and the UK from 19th February.
Final Thoughts – The Letter Writer is a moving story of early love.
