In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.In 20th-century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter.
- Won 7 Oscars
- 30 wins & 30 nominations total
Best Picture Winners by Year
Best Picture Winners by Year
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMeryl Streep developed her accent by listening to recordings of Karen Blixen reading her own works.
- GoofsWhen Denys Finch Hatton brings a record player to Karen Blixen's home, he lowers his hand and the sound volume decreases. Volume was set at recording time, not at playback.
- Quotes
Karen Blixen: When you go away... you don't always go on safari, do you? Just want to be away.
Denys: It's not meant to hurt you.
Karen Blixen: It does.
Denys: I'm with you because I choose to be with you. I don't want to live someone else's idea of how to live. Don't ask me to do that. I don't want to find out one day that I'm at the end of someone else's life.
- Crazy creditsEpilogue: "Karen Blixen published her first stories in 1934 under the name Isak Dinesen. She never returned to Africa."
- Alternate versionsNetwork TV version features additional footage not included in theatrical release.
- ConnectionsEdited into A Song of Africa (2000)
- SoundtracksConcerto for clarinet and orchestra in A (K.622)
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Jack Brymer Clarinet, The Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
Directed by Neville Marriner
Used Courtesy of Philips Classic Productions, The Netherlands
While I do understand Phyllida's attempt to have Meryl foreshadow others to show Thatcher's dominance, the movie itself became a one-woman show that barely gave a s*** about the supporting cast. While in Out of Africa, Pollock never resorts to showy camera work to highlight Meryl. The camera moves through the picturesque Africa and the beautiful Meryl so naturally as if the cameraman was lost in the beauty of the entire place. While Meryl is a marvel, Pollock himself is a wise man who gave the picture an independent existence. The Iron Lady will always remain Meryl's Iron Lady.
Based on a true story, Out of Africa shows Karen Blixen's life as she adjusts to the African lifestyle while romancing Denys (Redford) and divorcing Bror (Klaus). The opening itself talks of the farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills and is voiced by Streep in a very distinctive accent. Many of her performances, especially the ones where she uses accents, are slightly difficult to accept first but shine later, even though she does sound like Sly Stallone at times, especially when she says in one scene "I want you to COME HOME". Karen marries Bror to retain her title of baroness and moves to Africa. Bror uses her money against her wishes and doesn't take care of her properly. Karen meets Denys and another guy, and invites them to her home. Both the guys are attracted to her but things go awry for one. Denys and Karen fall in love but Denys lives a very different life, independent like Karen but in a nomadic way. Karen runs the entire farm, opens up a school and acquaints and adjusts herself with the Africans.
Pollack has handled the movie tactfully, and the film is enriched by fine performances. The green verdant lands of Africa with the pastoral huts of the Africans on one hand and the lavishness of the Britishers on the other can be seen. There is this lovely scene where the tribe chief tells Karen that only tall children will go to school. When Karen tells him that sending kids would be very wise of him, the African replies that the Britishers have learned to read, but it has not helped them in any way. Still, the farmers hold respect for Karen's caring nature.
Clocking at 2 hours and 40 minutes, Out of Africa is like a landscape of a beautiful bird on its mighty flight over the flowing rivers and the dense forests. My Rating: 8 out of 10
- sashank_kini-1
- Jan 29, 2012
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Languages
- Also known as
- Jenseits von Afrika
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $31,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $87,071,205
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $3,637,290
- Dec 22, 1985
- Gross worldwide
- $227,514,205
- Runtime2 hours 41 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1