Clarke), it’s a welcome bit of fun, but
for Elaine (Alexandra Pigg, who was
nominated for a BAFTA Award) it turns into
much more. Letter to Brezhnev remains a
hilarious and uplifting tale of how love and
idealism can help ordinary people realise
their dreams.
Amongst other themes, it reflects the
constraints on working class women’s
dreams. It also shows that many people do
not get the chance to aspire to anything
other than the humdrum lives they find
before them as they walk away from
school. Some of the characters worked in
what they called “the chicken factory”, a
slaughterhouse.
For the soundtrack for the movie Sandie
Shaw re-recorded the song “Always
Something There to Remind Me”. Also on
the soundtrack was the Bronski Beat song
“Hit That Perfect Beat” which was a hit in
Australia and the UK.
Actor Margi Clarke, Writer Frank Clarke and
Director Chris Bernard, who both worked
on Brookside, nominated Clapperboard
UK as the charity of their choice to raise
much needed funds at this special
Liverpool BBC Radio 2 DJ Janice Long, actor Dean Sullivan
with Clapperboard volunteer, actor Sophie Holden and
Clapperboard Director Maureen Sinclair
entertaining event attended by cast,
crew, extras as well as BBC Radio 2 DJ
Janice Long, Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s
Holly Johnson among others. Tickets for this
special screening sold out within 24 hours
so an extra screen was kindly provided
by picturehouse and tickets for this also
immediately sold out.
Now, more than 30 years on, Letter to
Brezhnev has been released by the BFI
(British Film Institute) on Blu-ray (for the first
time) and DVD in a Dual Format Edition
(both discs in one box). Special features
include new interviews with cast members.
Clapperboard’s Director Maureen Sinclair
said “it was a huge honour for me to be
asked to Host this special event and I
jumped at the opportunity. I have a long
personal history with Chris Bernard and
the talented creative Clarke family. We
grew up in Kirkby in social and political
environments and our parents were
politically active doing their best to ensure
we grew up in an inclusive and fair society
so it didnt surprise me when they chose
Clapperboard as the charity to benefit
from the screening. I’m very grateful and
touched by this kind generousity.”
Maureen Sinclair with Holly Johnson from
Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Perri from
Sense of Sound
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