Letters at Christmas * An Incredible Film About Love And The Hardships That Come With It
Amidst renovation of an old hotel, a divorcing couple’s marriage gets a chance when their kids find love letters from the past. Saving their parents’ marriage before a developer buys the hotel becomes the siblings’ mission.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Isabella V. comments, “Letters at Christmas is an incredible film about love and the hardships that come with it. With amazing acting, cinematography, and writing, this film not only got me in the Christmas spirit, but also brought up many more emotions…One thing I adore about this film is the storyline about the writers of the found letters. That impacted me and I wanted the best for them, despite knowing how it turns out. ” See her full review below.
Letters at Christmas
By Isabella V., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
Letters at Christmas is an incredible film about love and the hardships that come with it. With amazing acting, cinematography, and writing, this film not only got me in the Christmas spirit, but also brought up many more emotions.
The story takes place at a hotel, with a couple (Dean Cain, Janeshia Adams-Ginyard) wanting to sell it in order to have enough money to divorce. However, their children (Hanna Huffman, Raejon Jones), find old toys and love letters in a wall – letters that were written back in the 1950s. They attempt to get their parents to stay together by forging love letters, all while finding out more about the writers of the found letters.
One thing I adore about this film is the storyline about the writers of the found letters. That impacted me and I wanted the best for them, despite knowing how it turns out. The letters are written beautifully, especially one poem.
The acting is quite good; I especially appreciated the acting from Dean Cain, Janeshia Adams-Ginyard, who plays Jason and Nadia, and teenage Laura (Elizabeth Hemmingsen). Each of them brings their character to life in a believable way, so much that it made me empathetic whenever something bad happened. The comedic acting is also great, particularly in Junior (Steven Micheal Quezada) – I laughed out loud multiple times the first time I watched it.
The cinematography is great – making everything look real, and still very pretty. The background music is well selected, adding to the holiday spirit. My favorite part is the relationship between the two parents. All of their scenes together feel extremely real, and the chemistry between them feels natural. The kids’ roles are well acted also, showing how parents’ relationships can affect their children. The ensemble works so well together that they feel like a real family.
The film’s message is to never give up on love, despite the challenges and obstacles that are in the way. Be forewarned that some racism is shown – it is shown negatively, however it’s still present.
I give Letters at Christmas 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18, plus adults. It is currently available to watch on Prime Video.
