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Sophie's Choice

R Released Dec 8, 1982 2h 30m Drama List
74% Tomatometer 43 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Stingo (Peter MacNicol), a young writer, moves to Brooklyn in 1947 to begin work on his first novel. As he becomes friendly with Sophie (Meryl Streep) and her lover Nathan (Kevin Kline), he learns that Sophie is a Holocaust survivor. Flashbacks reveal her harrowing story, from pre-war prosperity to Auschwitz. In the present, Sophie and Nathan's relationship increasingly unravels as Stingo grows closer to Sophie and Nathan's fragile mental state becomes ever more apparent.
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Critics Consensus

Sophie's Choice may be more sobering than stirring, but Meryl Streep's Oscar-winning performance holds this postwar period drama together.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael New Yorker An infuriatingly bad movie. Sep 19, 2023 Full Review Bob Thomas Associated Press Sophie's Choice is a rare film, literate, deeply moving and gifted with an absolutely awe-inspiring performance by Meryl Streep. Nov 12, 2018 Full Review Stanley Kauffmann The New Republic In other ways the film is just as unsatisfactory as the book, because it's inseparably strapped to basic flaws. The story has no center, no protagonist. To whom does the action of the novel happen? Jan 9, 2018 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal Meryl Streep's performance is brilliant but too often back-benched by writer-director Alan J. Pakula's pokey, misguided adaptation of William Styron’s novel. Rated: 2.5/5 Jun 22, 2024 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins It's both crushing and triumphant. Rated: 9/10 Sep 7, 2020 Full Review David Parkinson Radio Times For all the significance of the revelations about Sophie's past, it is the interaction between the three central characters that gives the story its strength. Rated: 4/5 Jul 13, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Carlos F Buena pelicula, impone la duda de cual es la verdadera historia de Sofia, sin embargo me choca la personalidad de Sofia y de su amante, creo que Sofia por sus experiencias deberia ser menos sumisa, y el amante más cuerdo. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/31/24 Full Review Audience Member This ended up being a sad movie, and to its demise had some unfocused and lengthy parts, but the performances were amazing. I really liked Meryl Streep's portrayal of Sophie as well as Kevin Kline's portrayal of Nathan. What interesting characters with real depth! By the end you truly feel Sophie's pain from her story which was shown rather than told, which on the flip side is Nathan's version of how his story is depicted through his brother! Yet both of their demises and deaths felt significant and hit you hard. Stingo played an important role in their friendship and his dynamic with both of them and how he's a third wheel in both good ways and bad ways was good writing! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/18/24 Full Review Christian K A sobering story that showcases some real peaks in acting and filmmaking, but has its fair share of tedious and stale valleys. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/12/24 Full Review Chris H If you can make it though the first hour, which is slow and patchy, you will be rewarded. Streep is amazing throughout but so is Kline. Not sure what Peter MacNicol is doing in the film except to provide context and a "sane" character to contrast with the others. In the second half the full horror of Sophie's life is revealed, but in a subdued way; more like a novel than a Hollywood blockbuster, which is entirely appropriate. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/01/24 Full Review Jeff M I'll try to keep this short and sweet. This has been my favorite film ever for at least 30 years, and I don't foresee any motion picture dethroning it anytime soon. It contains the single best performance by an actor I've ever seen and secured a cinematic love affair I've had since I was 10 years old, when my grandmother took me to see SILKWOOD. Streep goes beyond acting and performance - there is no one like her, there will never be anyone like her and I feel lucky to have been alive during her tenure as the greatest actor ever. The story itself is emotionally volcanic, and the now legendary climactic "choice" scene is probably the most disturbing thing I've ever seen in a movie. But there is also a lot of joy and humor to be found in between the moments of angst. The flashback scenes showing how Streep and Kline met and fell in love are beautiful, and the chemistry between all three leads is crazy good. Like many of my favorites, this is not necessarily an easy film to watch, but the rewards for your mind and soul and heart are worth it. My favorite film ever! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/06/24 Full Review Robert J Meryl Streep And Kevin Kline. The movie …. If you survived the holocaust you will never be the same person, ever! Streep's performance was incredible and she was rewarded with and Oscar. It's slowly paced but moves along just fine towards the middle and on. She learned to speak German and Polish for the part. Incredible acting and a must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/24/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Sophie's Choice

Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - The Resistance Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - The Resistance 1:39 Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - Free My Little Boy Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - Free My Little Boy 2:07 Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - I Can't Choose! Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - I Can't Choose! 2:13 Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - An Enemy of the Reich Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - An Enemy of the Reich 2:04 Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - Remembering Josef Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - Remembering Josef 1:45 Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - A Flight From Memory Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - A Flight From Memory 2:13 Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - Scars Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - Scars 1:54 Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - Extermination Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - Extermination 1:42 Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - New Friends Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - New Friends 2:00 Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - The Land of the Living Sophie's Choice: Official Clip - The Land of the Living 2:09 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Stingo (Peter MacNicol), a young writer, moves to Brooklyn in 1947 to begin work on his first novel. As he becomes friendly with Sophie (Meryl Streep) and her lover Nathan (Kevin Kline), he learns that Sophie is a Holocaust survivor. Flashbacks reveal her harrowing story, from pre-war prosperity to Auschwitz. In the present, Sophie and Nathan's relationship increasingly unravels as Stingo grows closer to Sophie and Nathan's fragile mental state becomes ever more apparent.
Director
Alan J. Pakula
Producer
Alan J. Pakula, Keith Barish
Screenwriter
Alan J. Pakula
Production Co
Incorporated Television Company, Keith Barish Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 8, 1982, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 7, 2015
Runtime
2h 30m
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