Review of Sophie's Choice (1982) by Jim D — 13 Aug 2014

I saw this 17 -- YES, 17!!! -- times when it opened at the Avco Cinemas in Westwood during the Christmas season way back when. Every showing was sold-out! As the theater blacked-out at the final fade of Meryl Streep's "Sophie," the weeping in that dark theater was unlike anything I've ever heard in the movies.

And this was at EVERY one of those 17 shows! The transition to the screen of William Styron's very difficult bestseller, was no less than miraculously displayed by Alan Pakula's immensely intelligent, discerning and luminous direction.

Despite the tragic despair and co-dependence, the story (for me) was so utterly romantic (during the "good times"). One of my all-time favorite screen shots is that beautifully evocative pull-away of Sophie, Nathan and Stingo sitting on the rooftop of the porch of the "Pink Palace.

" I could barely contain my tears on that one...! Yes, the 45-minute Holocaust segment was definitely a downer; however, it was filmed and acted with such brilliance, and was perfectly in-tune with the character's psychological make-up.

I've always been curious about a particular scene -- when Stingo finds out the truth of Sophie's much "adored" father from a professor -- that seems to have been edited after I first saw it.

My recollection is that scene ends with the professor saying the outcome of her father's demise as being "poetic justice." However, the last time I saw the film, that line seems to have been excised.

..??? Now, many decades later, I'm not sure if I simply made up that text in my head...??? Well, whatever the case, this was a great introduction to Kevin Kline and Peter MacNicol, as well as a transcendence of Meryl Streep from actress to "legend".

... :D.