Review of Out of Africa (1985) by Elyse B — 10 Apr 2008

This film was epic in a traditional, romantic sense: sweeping musical themes, grand scenery, and self-consciousness. I, the tainted 21st-century viewer, found myself laughing at it quite a bit, just for its sheer romanticism.

Streep was ideal. In fact, I found myself forgetting that Blixen was Streep: instead, Streep became wholly Blixen. Her scenes dealing with Africa, its land and its people, were the film's most effective. Redford, however, was entirely too self-aware. He delivered each line forcefully, determined to play the romantic hero. I didn't believe him one bit.

For supposedly being a love story, there's precious little love portrayed in "Out of Africa." This film is a prime example of our culture's confusion of love and eroticism. For nearly all characters involved, love is only sex, lovers are only consumables, and life is the endless pursuit of as many pleasures as possible. By the end, these concepts ring hollow, and Karen is left with next to nothing. This outcome contrasts brilliantly true love as action vs. love misrepresented as a hormonal reaction: true love is displayed here not through Karen's many torrid affairs, but through her compassionate, platonic care for the African villagers.

Unfortunately, like Karen herself, the average viewer will not pause to ponder the deep meanings of love presented in this film. Instead, they will remember the fleeting, meaningless moments of romance, like the infamous hair-washing scene. (Personally, I think even the merit of that scene is negotiable. Why any woman, let alone one with the brains of Blixen, would be wooed by Coleridge is beyond me!).