The Letter: An American Town and the 'Somali Invasion'
Arab Film Distribution | Release Date: February 9, 2005 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
70
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 13 Critic Reviews
Positive:
9
Mixed:
4
Negative:
0

Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Christian Science MonitorDavid Sterritt
Revealing and harrowing. Read full review
90
The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck
Zlah H. Hamzeh's documentary is a powerful and timely portrait of the tensions that can be generated by immigration situations, especially in a post-Sept. 11 world. Read full review
80
Film ThreatRick Kisonak
As an affecting work of compassionate craftsmanship, The Letter delivers. Read full review
80
New York Magazine (Vulture)Staff (Not credited)
An expertly woven narrative, as nail-bitingly effective as any good Hollywood thriller. Read full review
80
L.A. WeeklyHazel-Dawn Dumpert
The result is a carefully wrought, historically grounded and thoroughly absorbing look at a quintessential American experience. Read full review
75
New York PostRussell Scott Smith
In the last 20 minutes, the film moves as breathlessly as a Hollywood thriller -- only it's much more frightening, because it's true. Read full review
70
The New York TimesAnita Gates
Mr. Hamzeh's film is responsible and intelligent, though, and important as a record of a disturbing incident. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
It could have been even more powerful with more context, clarity and a well-defined timeline. Undeniably strong, The Letter is at times misleading and confusing, possessing the raw materials for a much more coherent and potent film. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderFred Camper
The most telling moments in this 2003 video documentary aren't the statements of the neo-Nazis, a tiny minority who get way too much screen time, but the lies and bigotries of the ordinary citizens. Read full review
60
VarietyRobert Koehler
An especially dramatic, if needlessly frantic, work of polemical reportage on racism in America. Read full review
60
Village VoicePeter L'Official
Affecting, straightforward presentation of tightly knit, contrapuntal interviews and crosscut rally footage--Hamzeh's film eschews voice-over to allow the more despicable characters to embarrass themselves with their ludicrously foolish invective. Read full review
60
The A.V. ClubNoel Murray
Makes effective drama, but ultimately it's just an outrage machine, designed to get the viewer fired up by the sight of warring ideologues preaching to their own. Read full review
50
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
A frustrating lack of details compromise this much-needed look at how the promise of American diversity failed a community of Somali refugees in a large Maine town. Read full review
More From This Movie

70 Critic Reviews

8.4 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 77 Project Hail Mary
2 75 Send Help
3 73 Hoppers
4 72 The Sheep Detectives
5 68 Crime 101
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL