Four Letters of Love is a romantic drama that tells the story of a couple who were made for each other but become victims of fate. Source: Australian Catholics.
Based on Niall Williams’ 1997 novel of the same name, the film chronicles contemporary Irish life, and offers a portrait of tragedy, redemption and love.
Williams has written the film’s screenplay, which integrates separate storylines and brings the Williams novel powerfully to the screen.
Nicholas Couglan (O’Shea) and Isabel Gore (Skelly) are fated lovers destined to be with each other, and the power of love eventually pulls them together.
They live on an island with Isabel’s father (Byrne) and Isabel’s loving mother (Bonham Carter). A tragic accident occurs when Isabel’s younger brother Sean (Donal Finn) suddenly has a paralysing stroke that threatens his survival.
Polly Steele, as director, utilises Irish locations (Donegal and Antrim) to provide scenic backdrops for sweeping narratives propelled by destiny, and she constantly cuts between present and past events that eventually reconnect.
The complex narratives in this film convey the hidden meaning of the interwoven stories.
This is a deeply romantic love story that offers challenging thoughts on what keeps a marriage alive, and the tragedy that can result when the wrong person is chosen.
Review by Peter W Sheehan, Jesuit Media.
Four Letters of Love: Starring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter, Gabriel Byrne, Donal Finn, Fionn O’Shea and Ann Skelly. Directed by Polly Steele. Rated M (suicide references). 109m.
FULL REVIEW
Four Letters of Love (Australian Catholics)
