Last Letter

2020 2h 0m JA

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 29

RomanceDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

It is only at their sister's and mother's funeral when a woman meets her niece after many years. The niece is now a grown girl. The sister takes on the task of informing the deceased's friends of the death while the daughter cannot bring herself to symbolically accept the demise of her mother. In the midst of all this an old flame messages the sister to say he is still in love with her, but is he messaging the living sister or the dead one?

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Takako Matsu
Yuri Kishibeno
Masaharu Fukuyama
Kyoshiro Otosaka
Suzu Hirose
Ayumi / Young Misaki
Ryunosuke Kamiki
Young Kyoshiro
Nana Mori
Fuka / Young Yuri
Miho Nakayama
Skae
Etsushi Toyokawa
Ato
Hideaki Anno
Yuri's Husband

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Shunji Iwai
Writers: Shunji Iwai
Languages: Japanese
Countries: Japan

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 6 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "いわいしゅんじ Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Shunji Iwai, shot by Chigi Kanbe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Takeshi Kobayashi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Shunji Iwai shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Takako Matsu and Masaharu Fukuyama and Suzu Hirose carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt8809750 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Shunji Iwai directs. Chigi Kanbe behind the camera. Takeshi Kobayashi scores. Shunji Iwai cuts. Produced in Japan. Dialogue in Japanese.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 6 years ago.
2Part of the "いわいしゅんじ Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Shunji Iwai, shot by Chigi Kanbe. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Takeshi Kobayashi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Shunji Iwai shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Takako Matsu and Masaharu Fukuyama and Suzu Hirose carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt8809750 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 29 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Chigi Kanbe
Original score: Takeshi Kobayashi
Editing: Shunji Iwai
Production design: Aiko Kuramoto
Makeup / hair: Hiromi Saruya
Runtime: 120 min · 2h 0m
Status: Released
Original language: JA
Certification (US): I
IMDB: Last Letter (2020)

Part of

いわいしゅんじ Collection

Also by

Shunji Iwai

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Alunauwie2025-09-22
★ 10/10
Last Letter, adapted from Shunji Iwai’s own novel, is a beautifully crafted romantic drama that explores love, loss, and memory through heartfelt letters and nostalgic reflections. The film features emotional performances—especially from Suzu Hirose—and uses a soft summer palette and poetic narration to immerse viewers in a sense of quiet longing. With its emotionally resonant ending and touching character journeys, Last Letter is a must-watch for fans of deep, cinematic drama that lingers in the heart. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)

Production companies