1948. A young man, Stingo, moves to New York with aspirations of becoming a writer. He befriends two of his neighbours, Sophie and Nathan. Sophie is Polish and survived a Nazi concentration camp during WW2. Nathan and Sophie seem very much in love but Nathan's fits of jealousy and abuse threaten their idyllic existence. Moreover, Sophie harbours some deep secrets from her time in Auschwitz.
Excellent drama. Initially an engaging story of three friends and their relationship. This largely innocent initial period sets up the film for the later plot developments and revelations. The revelations are incredibly moving, revealing the extent of Nazi brutality and the lengths people had to go to and the decisions they had to make in order to survive it.
In addition this some other powerful subjects and themes are explored: the depths of man's inhumanity towards man, abusive relationships and why people stay in them, innocence lost.
While the plot and direction set this up to be a great movie, ensuring its classic status is an absolutely mesmerising performance from Meryl Streep as Sophie. Everything about her performance is perfect, down to the last word of dialogue and facial expression. There can't be too many better performances, if any, in the history of cinema and she truly deserved her Best Actress Oscar.
Excellent drama. Initially an engaging story of three friends and their relationship. This largely innocent initial period sets up the film for the later plot developments and revelations. The revelations are incredibly moving, revealing the extent of Nazi brutality and the lengths people had to go to and the decisions they had to make in order to survive it.
In addition this some other powerful subjects and themes are explored: the depths of man's inhumanity towards man, abusive relationships and why people stay in them, innocence lost.
While the plot and direction set this up to be a great movie, ensuring its classic status is an absolutely mesmerising performance from Meryl Streep as Sophie. Everything about her performance is perfect, down to the last word of dialogue and facial expression. There can't be too many better performances, if any, in the history of cinema and she truly deserved her Best Actress Oscar.