SLIFF 2010 Review: LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB

LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB is a simple, intimate (mostly) two character drama set in the stark countryside of Finland. The two characters are emotionally(and in the case of Jacob physically) damaged when they first meet , but at the end each has been greatly helped by their relationship. The film is a calm, quiet look at another culture and features two strong, subtle performances.

We first meet Leila(Kaarina Hazard) as her warden explains that she is being pardoned. The warden expresses surprise that during her incarceration she has never asked for a furlough or a family visit. The hard woman remains unemotional as she’s told that a priest has petitioned for her release and asked if she would live with him as his assistant. Without any other options, Leila travels by bus to Father Jacob’s desolate country home. There she is stunned to find that the elderly Jacob(Heikki Nousianinen) is blind. Jacob wants Leila to read him his mail which mostly consists of requests for advice and prayers and write out replies to them. The old man seems to spring to life when he hears the postman’s call(“Letters for Father Jacob!”) as he bicycles toward the house. When the postman meets Lela he expresses his concern over her past and the priest’s safety. Leila catches the postman as he sneaks into the house to check on Jacob. After that the letters stop arriving. Has Leila scared off the postman or have people just stopped writing. The lack of mail causes Jacob to spiral into despair and dementia. Will Leila abandon him? And how did she receive a lifetime prison sentence?

The film is leisurely paced as we get to know these two very different people that fate has brought together. Hazard is tough and stoic for most of the beginning, but eventually shows her softer caring side as she spends more time with the old priest. Nousianen’s Jacob has learned to be self sufficient after his blindness and relishes the time spent on his backyard listening to the requests of his former flock. Later, as he trudges to his old empty church believing that a wedding party waits for him, we can feel his despair and need to serve others. LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB is a tender,simple story of kindness and the healing power of forgiveness.

LETTERS TO FATHER JACOB will play during the 19th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival on Thursday, November 18 at 4:30 pm and Saturday, November 20 at 6 pm at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema