Out of Africa Review

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300 words

Out of Africa Review by Ana Belén Soldevilla Navarro (Avanzado 2, 2010-11)

(Spoiler Alert!!!)

Out of Africa was directed by Sidney Pollack in 1984. He also directed films like The Way We Were, Absence of Malice, Tootsie, Havana, The Firm, Sabrina, Eyes Wide Shut…

The film, which is based on Isak Dinessen's biography, won seven Oscars in 1985. Starred by Robert Redford, Meryl Streep and Klaus Maria Brandaver, the story is set in Kenya, Africa. It is about several chapters on Dinessen's life there, when it was a British Colony, at the beginning of the 20th century.

Karen Blixen gets married to a close a close friend and they decide to move to Kenya. They are going to run a coffee plantation and a farm at the foot of Ngong Hills. Their marriage breaks up as soon as she feels his lack of love. She meets Denys Finch Halton, an adventurous, liberal and independent hunter. In spite of having different aims in life, they fall in love.

Karen's plantation suffers a huge fire and she gets ruined. Consequently, she decides to go back to Europe. The last day which she spends on the farm, Denis has an accident with his plane and he gets killed. He is buried in Ngong Hills.

The movie starts with a quote from the beginning of the book: "I had a farm in Africa at the foot on Ngong Hills." I've seen this film more than 10 times, and each time I see it, it moves me so deeply that I strongly recommend it. Even if you don't usually like romantic drama, you won't forget this quotation. The only negative thing I find is the ending – it's rather sad and unexpected. In contrast, the photography, the music and the performance will make it an unforgettable trip to Africa.

If you get a chance, don't miss it!