Love Letter: this touching and efficient melodrama, directed by TANAKA Kinuyo, tells the story of a former sailor who, in post-war Tokyo, writes letters for women who correspond with lovers abroad. He is still pining for a childhood sweetheart, whom he meets after years when she uses the service. The film’s setting and portrayal of a country recovering from the war reminds of Italian neorealism, while the storyline drinks from Sirkian melodramas and the mix works well. The film is delicate and caring towards those trying to survive during that time. Acting is solid: MORI Masayuki plays the protagonist, a sad and serious man struggling with the morality of their situation; KUGA Yoshiko plays his love interest, a woman with a sizeable emotional baggage. UNO Juukichi, as his old and wise friend, may well be the best of the bunch. Composer SAITOO Ichiroo’s work is very nice, and cinematographer SUZUKI Hiroshi’s camerawork is solid.