So, I haven’t been by with a new review in about three weeks. No reason for that beyond the fact life got in the way, sometimes for the better, to keep me from the movies. But for the last day of August, I took note of three movies leaving The Criterion Channel before September, and I figured I should try to knock ’em out, get some reviews up, scratch off a couple more from the Fill-In Filmography, and try to get back on track around here.
I’m starting with Sophie Choice, a movie I remember my ex-wife watched once while I was too busy to join her, meaning I only saw bits and pieces of it.
Southern wannabe novelist “Stingo” (Peter MacNichol) has enough money to spend some time in New York City as he works on his novel. He takes a room in a Brooklyn boarding house where almost immediately he gets an invitation to dinner from his upstairs neighbors Nathan (Kevin Kline in his film debut) and Sophie (Meryl Streep). Before dinner even happens, he first hears the couple having sex and then later having a loud argument, during which Nathan insults Stingo based solely on Stingo’s accent before storming off. Sophie, meanwhile, still brings him dinner and seems very gracious.
As it is, Nathan comes back, apologizes, and the three become the best of friends. Nathan is a bit temperamental, but the pair are mostly fun and fun-loving eccentrics that appeal to Stingo on multiple levels. However, Sophie is a Holocaust survivor, a Polish Catholic sent to Auschwitz, and she only gradually talks about what happened to her there. Meanwhile, Nathan is given to disappearing for long periods of time, and while Stingo falls for Sophie, he also feels intensely loyal toward Nathan, someone he sees as a true friend. However, both Nathan and Sophie have secrets of their own, ones that gradually come out, something that reveals both to be damaged people. Sophie’s, however, are based entirely on her own rough life, and one fateful decision she made, under extreme pressure, that has haunted her ever since. What comes of this can only be tragic.
So, as I said, my ex watched this one night while I was busy doing all kinds of things, and I did know what Sophie’s choice was and what she chose to do. It’s a famous scene for a very good reason, not the least which is Streep’s straight-ahead, emotionally drained recounting of what happened directly into the camera interspersed with flashback scenes of the events in question. It’s a moment that demonstrates the extreme cruelty of the Nazis in the most effective means possible as Sophie hasn’t exactly been a rebel or anything. She was outraged by what was happening, but she likewise kept her head down to protect her two children. Streep likewise shines as the post-war Sophie who seems to be trying to ignore what got her to where she is by enjoying life as much as possible. Factor in as well a fairly brilliant turn by Kline as the mercurial Nathan, a man with his own issues that pale in comparison to Sophie’s own, and there are no complaints possible about the acting here.
Essentially, this is the sort of movie that would be just a weepy melodrama in lesser hands, but is instead a near masterpiece thanks to Streep, Kline, MacNichol, and director Alan J Pakula. Yeah, there have probably been harder-hitting Holocaust dramas since this came out, to the point where a moment in Auschwitz reminded me a bit about Zone of Interest, a movie I really probably should get around to seeing. It might have been nice if my ex had asked me to watch the movie with her, but the thing about Sophie’s Choice is it really should be something you need to catch at the right time. I had many opportunities to watch this one. I just finally felt like I was up to watching what was sure to be heart-rending, and it entirely lived up to those expectations.
Grade: A
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