Out of Africa (1985)

Genres

Biography, Drama, Romance

Director

Sydney Pollack

Country

USA

Cast

Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Michael Kitchen, Shane Rimmer, Malick Bowens, Joseph Thiaka, Stephen Kinyanjui, Michael Gough, Suzanna Hamilton, Rachel Kempson, Graham Crowden, Benny Young, Leslie Phillips, Annabel Maule, Iman

Storyline

It follows the life of Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep), a Danish Baroness and plantation owner in Kenya who has a passionate love affair with Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford), a free-spirited hunter.

Opinion

I put off watching "Out of Africa" for years, literally, because of its length. Never in my life I would have thought I'd be able to stomach a two and half hour long romance. Never. Well, I finally got my courage up and watched it and it wasn't half bad. Actually, it was a quite beautiful and moving film.

What I liked the most about this film is that it doesn't just tell about the love story between a married Danish Baroness and a hunter - although it is the focus of the film -, but it tells about the love this woman has for Africa, a love that in my opinion is way more beautiful than the heart-wrenching romance she shares with the hunter. Still, this isn't the best part of the movie. 

In spite of its very slow, almost glacial pace, Sydney Pollack's film still manages to be very intriguing thanks to a deep and very well developed leading character that is wonderfully portrayed by Meryl Streep who manages to convey all the qualities of Karen Blixen, from the intelligence to her charms. The other main character, Robert Redford's, isn't bad either, but at times he doesn't feel very believable, and Redford not speaking with a British accent may be one of the reasons. Apart from this, Redford as well gives a good performance.

Quite striking are also the beautiful, classical cinematography - it looks very aged at points though -, the breathtaking, exotic settings and John Barry's incredible score that is both great to listen and the perfect fit for the story.