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Out of Africa

Play trailer Poster for Out of Africa PG 1985 2h 40m Romance Biography Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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62% Tomatometer 90 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Initially set on being a dairy farmer, the aristocratic Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) travels to Africa to join her husband, Bror (Klaus Maria Brandauer), who instead spends their money on a coffee plantation. After discovering Bror is unfaithful, Karen develops feelings for hunter Denys (Robert Redford), but realizes he prefers a simplistic lifestyle compared to her upper class background. The two continue on until a series of events force Karen to choose between her love and personal growth.
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Out of Africa

Out of Africa

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Critics Consensus

Though lensed with stunning cinematography and featuring a pair of winning performances from Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, Out of Africa suffers from excessive length and glacial pacing.

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Critics Reviews

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Mike McGrady Newsday 05/25/2023
3.5/4
Once again, Streep adds a third dimension to a two-dimensional medium; once again she brings humanity and intelligence to a remarkable portrait that must be added to what has become a gallery of such portraits. Go to Full Review
Rick Lyman Philadelphia Inquirer 01/13/2021
4/4
Sydney Pollack's glorious and stirring Out of Africa is a big-screen epic in the very best sense. Go to Full Review
David Denby New York Magazine/Vulture 01/13/2021
The beauty of Out of Africa, From the very opening shots, is rhapsodic and illustrative rather than dramatic. This large-scale adaptation of Isak Dinesen's marvelous memoir never catches fire. Go to Full Review
Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Oct 13
3/4
It’s no coincidence that the movie came out two years after clothing retailer The Gap bought Banana Republic... Go to Full Review
Yasser Medina Cinefilia Feb 11
5/10
Unfortunately, its memoir story is enormously dull and not even Meryl Streep's delicate performance can prevent the love affair from plummeting into predictable plains. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal 06/22/2024
2.5/5
A disjointed, lumpen snoozer that improves in its final half but completely whiffs the ending. It's also one of Meryl Streep's least interesting and most perfunctorily Oscar-nominated performances. Go to Full Review
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Christian K @ckacar 17h A natural and scenic look at the beautiful vistas and scenery of Africa. All while white people take over and the indigenous people are all cool with it and love them. See more Harry D @HarryD Dec 7 A cinematic film in the style of Lawrence of Arabia. Grand in scope with the cinematography to match. I went with my wife because she believed all the buzz about it. I hated it! I didn’t like any of the characters involved. There are No heroes or heroines. Streeps character is dull and uninspired who is unfulfilled by the man she married. Her husband ignores her and she decides to have an affair with the handsome big game hunter that is willing to have sex with her when he has the time to. I couldn’t find anything about any of the characters to admire or appreciate. The film is long, but quite gorgeous. Incredible scenic vista of African wildlife, but that’s not enough to justify this film! If you would like a three hour escape from the commonplace of your existence, enjoy. Personally, when Streep discovers through a message, his demise is never shown onscreen, that her lover, Redford is dead, I had to restrain myself from standing and applauding that I could leave the theater! See more Peter B Nov 16 A movie to savour, to sit back and let the events, the music and the performances wash over you. See more Tommy H Sep 24 I ended up falling asleep. The characters just were not engaging enough for me to want to finish this. See more chris m Sep 23 for many, boring; for others, captivating. 'out of africa' is one of those films that divides opinions: some consider it slow, others perceive it as a work full of beauty and sensitivity. the truth is that, although its pace is unhurried, it never feels boring. sydney pollack opts for a type of cinema that does not seek to impress with artifices or advanced audiovisual techniques, but rather to convey emotions, build solid characters, and offer the viewer a deeply sensory experience. the character development is, without a doubt, one of the most correct and carefully crafted in cinema. the evolution of karen and denys unfolds naturally, without rush or excess, and it is impossible not to connect with them. the on-screen chemistry between robert redford and meryl streep is undeniable; in fact, streep herself would later recall it as one of the best connections she has ever had in her career. the cinematography is another of the film’s great strengths. africa is not just a setting but another character: the landscapes impress, fascinate, and envelop with an incredible visual power. the camera portrays them with respect and admiration, achieving a balance between postcard-like beauty and authenticity. the music, composed by john barry, becomes an indispensable companion. its deep and enveloping melodies heighten the emotional weight of the story and give it a melancholic tone that is unforgettable. pollack never fails: here he demonstrates his ability to tell stories with elegance, without overemphasizing, letting silences, glances, and gestures speak as much as the dialogues. 'out of africa' is a moving work, written and directed with wonder, that combines an intimate love story with a portrayal of cultures and landscapes that impress with their richness and contrast. it may not be a film for everyone, especially for those seeking a faster pace, but those who let themselves be carried away by its rhythm will find a cinematic experience that moves them and remains in memory. spanish: para unos, aburrida; para otros, cautivadora. 'memorias de áfrica' es una de esas películas que dividen opiniones: algunos la consideran lenta, otros la perciben como una obra cargada de belleza y sensibilidad. lo cierto es que, aunque su ritmo es pausado, nunca se siente aburrida. sydney pollack apuesta por un cine que no busca impresionar con artificios ni con técnicas audiovisuales de vanguardia, sino transmitir emociones, construir personajes sólidos y ofrecer al espectador una experiencia profundamente sensorial. el desarrollo de personajes es, sin duda, uno de los más correctos y cuidados que se pueden encontrar en el cine. la evolución de karen y denys se da con naturalidad, sin prisas ni excesos, y resulta imposible no conectar con ellos. la química en pantalla entre robert redford y meryl streep es palpable; de hecho, la propia streep la recordaría después como una de las mejores conexiones que ha tenido a lo largo de su carrera. la fotografía es otro de los grandes aciertos de la película. áfrica no es solo un escenario, sino un personaje más: los paisajes impresionan, fascinan y envuelven con una fuerza visual increíble. la cámara los retrata con respeto y admiración, logrando que cada plano tenga algo de postal y, al mismo tiempo, de verdad. la música, compuesta por john barry, se convierte en un acompañamiento indispensable. sus melodías profundas y envolventes elevan la carga emocional de la historia y le dan un tono melancólico que resulta inolvidable. pollack nunca falla: demuestra aquí su capacidad para contar historias con elegancia, sin subrayar de más, dejando que los silencios, las miradas y los gestos hablen tanto como los diálogos. 'memorias de áfrica' es una obra conmovedora, escrita y dirigida con asombro, que mezcla una historia de amor íntima con un retrato de culturas y paisajes que impresionan por su riqueza y contraste. puede que no sea una película para todos los gustos, especialmente para quienes buscan un ritmo más dinámico, pero quienes se dejen llevar por su cadencia encontrarán una experiencia cinematográfica que emociona y que permanece en la memoria. See more Balakrishnan M @9947193800 Sep 17 The cinematography, the score by the legendary John Barry and brilliant performances from Meryl Streep and Robert Redford make this film a memorable one. See more Read all reviews
Out of Africa

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Out of Africa

Out of Africa: Official Clip - He Was Not Mine Out of Africa: Official Clip - He Was Not Mine 1:53 Out of Africa: Official Clip - All Gone Out of Africa: Official Clip - All Gone 2:55 Out of Africa: Official Clip - A Glimpse of the World Through God's Eye Out of Africa: Official Clip - A Glimpse of the World Through God's Eye 3:00 Out of Africa: Official Clip - You Do Like to Change Things Out of Africa: Official Clip - You Do Like to Change Things 3:00 Out of Africa: Official Clip - Karen Takes the Shot Out of Africa: Official Clip - Karen Takes the Shot 3:00 Out of Africa: Official Clip - Lion Attack Out of Africa: Official Clip - Lion Attack 2:38 Out of Africa: Official Clip - Shampoo By the River Out of Africa: Official Clip - Shampoo By the River 1:07 Out of Africa: Official Clip - Karen's New Home Out of Africa: Official Clip - Karen's New Home 1:32 Out of Africa: Official Clip - Karen Says Goodbye Out of Africa: Official Clip - Karen Says Goodbye 2:47 Out of Africa: Official Clip - Shoot Her! Out of Africa: Official Clip - Shoot Her! 1:29 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Initially set on being a dairy farmer, the aristocratic Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) travels to Africa to join her husband, Bror (Klaus Maria Brandauer), who instead spends their money on a coffee plantation. After discovering Bror is unfaithful, Karen develops feelings for hunter Denys (Robert Redford), but realizes he prefers a simplistic lifestyle compared to her upper class background. The two continue on until a series of events force Karen to choose between her love and personal growth.
Director
Sydney Pollack
Producer
Sydney Pollack
Screenwriter
Kurt Luedtke
Distributor
MCA/Universal Pictures [us], Universal Pictures
Production Co
Universal Pictures
Rating
PG
Genre
Romance, Biography, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 18, 1985, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$83.1M
Runtime
2h 40m
Sound Mix
Surround, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track
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