Official Synopsis:
“Adapted from William Styron’s best-selling novel, the passionate tale of a writer’s love for a holocaust survivor is an exhilarating and compelling revelation. Screen favorite Meryl Streep received an Academy Award for her portrayal of Sophie Zawistowska in this penetrating drama set in post-World War II Brooklyn. Kevin Kline plays her all-consuming lover, Nathan. The story revolves around Sophie’s struggle as a Polish-Catholic immigrant in the United States who had survived a Nazi concentration camp. The lovers’ drama unfolds through the observations of a friend and would-be writer, Stingo (Peter MacNicol). As the trio grows closer, Stingo uncovers the hidden truths that they each hardbor, resulting in “a fine, absorbing, heartbreaking movie”.”
There are some movies that when they are over, leave you sitting dazed like you’ve been kicked in the stomach. Twice I’ve experienced this in theatres. Both times, everyone in there sat motionless. No one knew what to do, what to say, we all just tried to process it as best we could. We couldn’t even fathom simple actions such as standing and walking out. The same thing happened to me in Sophie’s Choice. If I wasn’t 2 months old at the time it came out, I think I could safely say I would’ve experienced the same event in the theatre then, that unspoken camaraderie everyone feels when they’ve shared a tragic experience.
After 1982, anyone faced with a decision would make reference to this film. Whether it be a life-atlering decision, or simply if you should have chocolate or vanilla ice cream, the common expression would be “Oh, it’s like Sophie’s Choice!”. Friends even made reference to it during the run of the series. Odds are, even if you haven’t seen the film, you know the terrible choice that’s in store for Sophie. Knowing this still doesn’t detract from the film, however.
The entire story is fatally tragic. Even in the most joyous of times, it’s all a lie. Sophie and Nathan delude themselves so completely that everything in their life suffers from it; the untold truth that lies stirring just under the surface of which they dare not speak.
Of course you feel bad for all of the characters, but I particularly feel for Stingo. He is young, naive, vulnerable; he has tragedy in his past, too. Just like Nathan and Sophie, he tries to hide it, and doesn’t like confronting it. However, his choice in how to face it is to write a novel about it. Although it is supposedly fictional, he admits to some sort of autobiographical nature concerning his mother dying when he was twelve. This loss has clearly had a major impact on him, as he seems lonely, and looking for someone to connect with. Unfortunately those people were Nathan and Sophie. The love he comes to feel for both of them comes from a very vulnerable part of himself. He has been led to this delusion that Nathan and Sophie need to survive.
I’m not trying to downplay Sophie’s story by any means. Her story is so tragic, that it is usually what people tend to focus on when watching this film, and so they should. I feel that Stingo is forgotten in this cloud of emotion, and it should just be recognized in some sense. After all, nobody watches the same film, something that Kevin Kline states about watching this film, which brings us to:
Extras
New Roundtable Conversation With Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and more.
This brand new discussion between those involved in the film is as good as it gets when it comes to retrospectives about a film. I was a bit disappointed when I first saw this was the only extra, not including the commentary, but when I watched it I was totally satisfied. I don’t think there could be much more to be said about this film, by the actors themselves no less. It gives us some fascinating insights into the casting process, the production, and just thoughts and feelings of everyone involved.
Audio Commentary With Director Alan J. Pakula
This is an older commentary by the director, as he died in 1998. Nevertheless, it is still informative and worth listening to, especially after watching the roundtable discussion in which they all speak so highly of him.
Theatrical Trailer
Video
The Blu-ray is presented in 1080p High Definition (2.35:1). The transfer is very well done. After reading of some issues with the DVD version, it seems that most of these issues have been corrected, making it look the best it ever has. There is an occasional dust particle or small scratch, but these are few and far between and should not be very noticeable, if at all. Colors all seem very accurate in most scenes.
Audio
The Blu-ray features lossless DTS-HD. The mix is very well done, giving an awe-inspiring appreciation for the Oscar nominated score.
There is a reason Meryl Streep has been nominated and received so many Academy awards. She is phenomenal in this film, as is Kevin Kline, starring in his first feature. This is one of the best treatments this film has received, the upgraded transfer and new roundtable discussion make this well worth the upgrade if you already own it. Those that don’t, just get it.