The sunny streets of Brooklyn, just after World War II. A young would-be writer named Stingo (Peter MacNicol) shares a boarding house with beautiful Polish immigrant Sophie (Meryl Streep) and her tempestuous lover, Nathan (Kevin Kline); their friendship changes his life.

This bestselling novel by William Styron was made into an unforgetably  well made film in 1982. Director Alan J. Pakula (All the President’s Men) provides a steady, intelligent path into the harrowing story of Sophie, whose flashback memories of the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp form the backbone of the movie.

Streep’s exceptional performance–flawless Polish accent and all–won her an Oscar, and effectively raised the standard for American actresses of her generation. No less impressive is Kevin Kline, in his movie debut, capturing the mercurial moods of the dangerously attractive Nathan, a young writer. The two worlds of Sophie’s Choice, nostalgic Brooklyn and monstrous Europe, are beautifully captured by the gifted cinematographer Néstor Almendros, whose work was Oscar-nominated but didn’t win. It should have.

delete reply redheadgirl4 wrote on Nov 25, ’07 This is such a heartbreaking movie, and so well done. Meryl Streep was brilliant. This scene is devastating to watch. I’m not sure if I’ll get a chance to do Movie Monday this week, but I’m thinking about writing about another film dealing with that horrible time. Great review as always.

delete reply philsgal7759 wrote on Nov 25, ’07 A wonderful film. Though very heart wrenching. Would that these things were not true

delete reply laura1may wrote on Nov 26, ’07 I have seen it and it is a very intense and moving film. Miss Streep is a great talent.

delete reply cyberkitty wrote on Nov 26, ’07 I read the book and it was one of those books that made me numb for a couple of weeks. I couldn’t stop thinking, rethinking, reinventing the atrocities she went through. I haven’t seen the movie though, so thanks for this review, will watch it.