Out of Africa (1985)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers:

Karen Blixen (books)
Judith Thurman (book)

Release Date:

18 December 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Based on a true story.

Plot:

In 20th century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate but ultimately doomed love affair with a free-sprited big-game hunter.

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Plantation | Love | Africa | Farm

Awards:

Won 7 Oscars. Another 22 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Karen Blixen
Robert Redford	...	Denys Finch Hatton
Klaus Maria Brandauer	...	Bror Blixen / Hans Blixen
Michael Kitchen	...	Berkeley Cole
Malick Bowens	...	Farah
Joseph Thiaka	...	Kamante
Stephen Kinyanjui	...	Kinanjui
Michael Gough	...	Lord Delamere
Suzanna Hamilton	...	Felicity
Rachel Kempson	...	Lady Belfield
Graham Crowden	...	Lord Belfield
Leslie Phillips	...	Sir Joseph
Shane Rimmer	...	Belknap
Mike Bugara	...	Juma
Job Seda	...	Kanuthia

Runtime:

160 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Swahili

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Norway:11 | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Mirage Enterprises

Trivia:

It took director Sydney Pollack and writer Kurt Luedtke two years to find the spine of Karen Blixen's stories upon which they could hang the elements of the plot.

Goofs:

Continuity: Berkley's shawl keeps changing positions on his shoulder when he is talking to Denys about his disease.

Quotes:

Baron Bror Blixen: That's a fine kiss goodbye.
Karen Blixen: I'm better at reappearances.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Player (1992)

Soundtrack:

Three Divertimenti (K.136,137,138)

Memorable Love Story Told With Vigor And Beauty

This is one of those Best Picture Oscar winners that Oscar-haters like to mention when they want to ridicule the Academy and Hollywood in general, but I think the film still holds up rather well. It is an old-fashioned romantic epic, and very much a throwback to the kinds of films Hollywood produced during the 1950s and 1960s. If you only like "important" artistic achievements, this is not the film for you. But if you enjoy deeply romantic epics, with elegant photography and good performances, you will enjoy this movie. It is based on famous author Isak Dinesen's experiences in Africa, many years before she wrote her popular stories. She is played by Meryl Streep, who gives her usual meticulous performance. She nails down her character without ever resorting to melodramatic gimmicks. Only Africa itself offers Streep's superb performance some real competition. In fact, this film does for Africa what "Lawrence of Arabia" did for the Middle East; the main character's love for the land (an important element of the story) comes across strongly. Pollack's generic direction is effective, allowing the material to speak for itself. Robert Redford seems out of place (no one would ever believe him as an Englishman), but he does look the part. Redford provides the film with an unwanted element of artificiality, but since this is a romantic epic, female viewers will appreciate his presence. Overall, this is a technically superior, grand production. Watch it with someone you love.