Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Sophie's Choice
Sophie (Streep), a Polish-born survivor of the Nazi death camps, has survived to land in postwar New York but is burdened by guilt that makes her life a walking death. He one reason for living is Nathan (Kline), a charming but delusional and probably bi-polar American Jew who is obsessed by the Holocaust. They befriend Stingo, a young writer newly arrived in the city and the narrator of the tale. Her ghosts and his mental obsessions threaten to destroy them while Stingo watches helplessly. Streep begged for this role on her hands and knees, learned German and mastered a Polish accent, and the labor paid off in a Best Actress Oscar for this intense 1982 performance. The film is a bit long at 150 minutes and wanders somewhat, but is thoroughly memorable nonetheless.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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Analysis of Sophie's Choice
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Inner struggle or disability
Yes
Struggle with
- conduct in war
War impact on civilians/veterans
Yes
Kind of conflict:
- holocaust
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
- emotionally unstable
Hair color?
- blonde
Hair type
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Eastern European
How sensitive is this character?
- soggy whimpering jelly muffin
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average build
Unclothed?
- chest
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Jewish
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Europe
Yes
European country:
- Germany
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
Misc setting
- prison
- fort/military installation
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
Movie makes you feel...
- depressed/sad
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
- sex under blankets
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
Is this movie based on a
- book
