[Movie Review] The Letter/Tegami

Released in 2006, 'The Letter' depict the story of two brother with unfortunate faiths. Growing up without their parents, older brother Takeshi accidentally commits a murder while stealing cash from an elderly to support his brother, resulting being sentenced in jail for life. Naoki, his little brother, automatically gets labelled as 'murderer's brother' and faces the aftermath of his brother's crime. The story follows the letter exchange between the two and how both of them come in terms with their faith.

This movie was heartbreaking to watch. It was able to grasp the harsh reality of being a murder's brother, especially in a society which based upon old traditions like Japan.

If you are unfamiliar with the Japanese societies and crimes, this movie might be harder to understand as it deeply tries to portray the wrong in the society and how an innocent man and his family suffer from it. There are several scenes were the old values are demonstrated and scrutinised. 

Additionally, the gem of this movie was the development in the relationship of the two brothers. It realistically portrayed how one person may act as he is facing this prejudiced world. You see a progression of the little brother's feeling from avoiding his brother to trying to rekindle their relationship. It's hard to get your head around this but the movie was able to portray it in a simple way by using the letters. 

It literally brought me to tears by the end because this scenario could happen to anyone and anywhere in the world!